Super Science Concoctions - An Excellent Science Book

I mentioned in my Science Sunday post, that I would be reviewing Jill Frankel Hauser's Super Science Concoctions, which I thought was either the best science book for children ever, or a huge disappointment.

I said that, because on first glance it is a wonderful book of science experiments for children. It's not only filled with excellent, child friendly, scientific explanations for each experiment, but it's also laid out in a colorful, and exciting way, that draws the eye from one bit of information to another. And, it's one of those books, that makes every experiment look like so much fun, you want to try them all.

However, we've encountered books like that before, only to experience a series of total flops, or mediocre results, when we actually tried out the experiments.

And, we did have one major flop, when following Hauser's taffy recipe (during a non-Newtonian fluid experiment). What we came up with was definitely not the example of thixotropy we were promised.

But, the other experiments we tried - making colloid, gelatin and juice, worms...







...using chromatography to make a fire breathing dragon, bookmark...


















...turning brown sugar, cornstarch, and milk into a pretty yummy, butterscotch pudding...



...and the whole slew of cabbage based, pH testing, experiments, that made up our Science Sunday post, turned out terrifically.

Many of the base experiments are familiar, like the vinegar egg etching, perfume making, or rain in a jar, but they all come with additional experiments, and some creative side activities (like the dragon bookmark above), and really clear, interesting scientific explanations.

Add to that, the fact that each experiment, and scientific explanation, leads nicely into the next, and you have a pretty successful science book. The target age range is 6-12, and while Hauser also has a book aimed at 2-6 year olds (which I hope to be checking out soon), my younger children were able to join in, and understand (pretty well), all of the experiments we performed.

There's more to say about this book. I could really gush on for quite a while. But, the general gist is we like it!

It's great to be a homeschooler.