SUPER Science Experiments: Build It: Build rockets and racers and test energy forces!

by Elizabeth Snoke Harris

With more than 80 fun experiments, SUPER Science Build It is the ultimate lab book for kids who want to build cool stuff! This fact- and fun-filled book includes tons of simple, kid-tested science experiments, many of which can be done with items from around the house, and require little to no supervision! That’s right— no adult help needed. That means no grown-ups doing all the fun stuff while you watch. You can do lots of messy, cool, mind-blowing experiments all by yourself! All the supplies you need are probably already in your home. No fancy gadgets or doohickeys needed! Whether you want to build your own catapult, lava lamp, rocket, or even a light bulb, this book has something for everyone. Each experiment features safety precautions, materials needed, step-by-step instructions with illustrations, fun facts, and further explorations. With SUPER Science Build It, kid scientists like you
At once engaging, encouraging, and inspiring, the SUPER Science Experiments series provides budding scientists with go-to, hands-on guides for learning the fundamentals of science and exploring the fascinating world around them. Also in this series, check Cool Creations, At Home, and Outdoor Fun. There’s no better boredom-buster than a science experiment. You will learn something and astound and amaze your friends and family. So, what are you waiting for? Get experimenting!

64 pages, Paperback

Published April 14, 2020

About the author

Beth has been involved in science education for over 20 years in the classroom, research facilities and museums. She loves sharing fun experiments with anyone who will listen and with whatever is handy. When she's not working on science curriculum projects or leading STEM field trips at the local roller rink, she serves as web master for science education organizations. Her other hobbies include playing with her kids, gardening, and beekeeping in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Reviews

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of our favorites of this new series of science experiment books (other topics are outside, at home, etc.). It features very simple experiments that kids can do with minimal parental help (mostly), typically with things easily found around the house.

Examples of the projects -- make bricks out of mud and ice cube trays, make stomp rockets from plastic bottles, make a tennis ball shooter from a Pringles can and plastic bottle, make an underwater volcano with a candle under some sand in a cup of water that you heat on the stove, etc.

There are colorful illustrations for each project, and many, many projects. There are one to two projects on each page, giving kids a huge range of experiments and projects. Some of them are rather simple, while others are more complicated.

The science behind the experiment is explained for each activity.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

SUPER Science Experiments: Build It: Build rockets and racers and test energy forces! is a new STEAM activity guide for young readers (and their resource adults/caregivers) by Elizabeth Snoke Harris. Released 14th April 2020 by Quarto on their MoonDance Press imprint, it's 64 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats.

This is one volume of a series of simple and practical science experiments aimed at middle school aged learners (ages 8+). This one contains over 75 tutorials (I didn't count carefully) covering concepts in mechanics, fluid dynamics, engineering, and more. This is full of fun maker activities for things that fly, go, zoom, and whiz.

Everyone needs fun learning ideas for youngsters (and adults) in these bizarre days. Science and learning have always been my go-to stress and boredom busters whenever I have to stay home and can't go out. This collection is simple, full of easy to follow experiments and activities, and uses easy to find ingredients which most readers already have available around the house.

There are a number of activities which can be done by kids themselves without supervision. All safety information and tips are clearly delineated in the text. The tutorials themselves are accessible and written simply in easy to understand language.

The illustrations are simple and well done. They support and enhance the experiments. Each of the exercises has a list of ingredients, step by step instructions, and a "What's Happening" explanation of the relevant concepts at the end of each one. The tutorial measurements are given in American standard measures (pounds, cups, and so forth). There is also a very abbreviated index at the back of the book. It should be noted that these are *simple* experiments, and that some of the explanations might be somewhat oversimplified and not very complete (in my opinion). It would be a good additional exercise to research a little deeper about the concepts covered in the chapters to get more complete understanding and deeper learning.

This would make a super book for science homeschooling units, makers groups (when we can go out again), or even online school instruction sessions.

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another great collection of experiments that older kids can do pretty independently from adults. And younger kids can do them with some adult supervision. I've done some of these with the older fours and fives in my class. We had fun with bouncing balls, different kinds of rockets (like the balloon ones), and a volcano. So many more are waiting to be tried, though!

A lot of these items can be found around the house, but you may need to go shopping for some. It's another book that is going to provide weeks of entertainment while learning and a great part of this series.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me a review copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.