Ace Your Ecology and Environmental Science Project: Great Science Fair Ideas (Ace Your Science Project) [Library Binding]

Robert Gardner (Author), Phyllis J. Perry (Author), Salvatore Tocci (Author)

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Library Binding: 112 pages
• Publisher: Enslow Publishers (June 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0766032167
• ISBN-13: 978-0766032163
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,008,516 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Way Science Fair Books OUGHT to be, September 7, 2009

By 

Gwynne C. Spencer (Mancos, Colorado) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ace Your Ecology and Environmental Science Project: Great Science Fair Ideas (Ace Your Science Project) (Library Binding)

Part of the "Great Science Fair Ideas" series which also includes chemistry, food science, space science, animal science, human biology, plant sciences, and exercise/nutrition titles, this handsome book is filled with terrific environmental exploration ideas. Each chapter includes starter ideas for science projects for ages 10 and up. Many of the projects require adult supervision and/or intervention for safety which fact is included first in the list of materials as well as in bold red text in the narrative portion of the chapter. A brief introduction sets a welcome tone implying that all of us are scientists all the time, and an effort has been made to dispel the "mad scientist" image that permeates many science fair books. A short section on scientific method is followed by an explanation of what science fair judges are looking for, how to be a responsible science fair participant, and safety precautions. Chapters include Ecology and Environment (with 9 basic investigations which include photosynthesis, decay, diversity of biomes); Organisms and Their Environments (8 investigations ranging from seeds, soil and plants to air pollution, artificial light sources, and fertilizer effects); Cycles in the Global Environment (6 sections, covering water cycle, model aquifer, mini-greenhouse, and decomposition); Population Ecology (5 sections with specifics on gestation/longevity, population and predators, statistical analysis of population, overpopulation's effects, survival adaptations); and Humans and the Environment (6 sections, waste in food packaging, acid rain, recycling, alternatives to pesticides are sample experiments). A page of "Further Reading and Internet Addresses" is followed by a short index. Unlike many of the science project books, this one doesn't tell kids what the outcomes are supposed to be. HOORAY AND HALLELUJIAH!!!! In my world, if you know how an experiment is supposed to turn out, it's not an experiment--it's a demonstration, or a magic trick. This title guides the reader to designing good experiments to narrow down the variables to one, and encourages them to repeat and vary the experiments to validate their hypotheses. Readers will want to have their own 3x5 cards handy to jot down questions that will inspire new science projects, because it's almost guaranteed every page will spawn at least three new possibilities. And this book has 112 pages. The illustrations (all by Stephen F. Delisle except one on page 67) are clear and easily understood and themselves will inspire readers to use charts, graphs and illustrations of their own in science projects they set up. Altogether one of the best books for science fair we've seen. Colorful pages, attractive headers of various colors, and nicely formatted pages will entice older readers to enjoy science and enable younger readers to reach up and do real science!