Janice VanCleave's Big Book of Play and Find Out Science Projects

by VanCleave, Janice

• ISBN13: 9780787989286
• ISBN10: 0787989282
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-03-30
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass

Summary

Introduce young children to the wonders of science Using this book as a guide, you and your favorite budding scientist can have fun exploring the world while you help your child learn about science and develop important science process skills. You may think it's hard to get young children interested in science, but just watch their eyes light up when they make bouncy blubber or play clay, or when you venture out together in the backyard or local park for a bug-collecting expedition. These are the kind of everyday explorations that give kids a great foundation for a lifetime of science learning. In this terrific collection of fun, kid-tested science activities, bestselling children's science writer and former teacher Janice VanCleave has combined her favorite science activities for young people into one jumbo-sized book that you and your children will love. Janice VanCleave's Big Book of Play and Find Out Science Projects includes over 50 easy-to-do activities and is divided into four parts: PHYSICAL SCIENCE: Encourage kids to get physical with science with questions such as: How does a compass work? Why do I have to wear a seat belt? Why can't I catch a rainbow? Why does my hair stick to a comb? NATURE: Help children answer questions naturally including: Why do cats' eyes glow in the dark? How do fish move up and down in the water? Why do plants move toward the sun? Can squirrels really fly? BUGS: Challenge the science bug in kids with questions such as: Why do fireflies light up? How do butterflies drink? Where do spiders come from? Why are walkingsticks hard to find? HUMAN BODY: Capture children's imaginations about the whole body of science with questions like these: Why do I have hair on my body? How does my heart sound? Why do foods taste different? Why are my bones hard?

Author Biography

Janice VanCleave is a former science teacher who now spends her time writing and giving science workshops. She is the author of more than fifty children's science books with sales totaling over 2 million copies.

Table of Contents

A Letter from Janice VanCleave	p. ix
Before You Begin	p. 1
Physical Science	p. 3
Air
Spacey: I Wonder...Is There a Way to Catch the Air?	p. 5
Drifter: I Wonder...What Holds Up a Parachute?	p. 8
Changes
Bouncy Blubber: I Wonder...Why Do Balls Bounce?	p. 12
Play Clay: I Wonder...How Could I Make My Own Play Clay?	p. 15
Magnets
Stickers: I Wonder...How Do Magnets Hold My Drawings on the Refrigerator?	p. 19
North Seekers: I Wonder...How Does a Compass Work?	p. 22
Forces
Floater: I Wonder...Why Do Boats Float?	p. 26
Buckle Up: I Wonder...Why Do I Have to Wear a Seat Belt?	p. 29
Light
Changing: I Wonder...Why Does My Shadow Change Size?	p. 33
Rainbows: I Wonder...What Makes a Rainbow?	p. 36
Sound
String Telephone: I Wonder...How Does a Telephone Work?	p. 39
Musical Teeth: I Wonder...Does My Chewing Sound Loud to Other People?	p. 42
Electricity
Attractive: I Wonder...Why Does My Hair Stick to My Comb?	p. 46
Flashlight: I Wonder...How Does a Flashlight Work?	p. 49
Nature	p. 53
Basic Life-forms
Building Blocks: I Wonder...What Are Cats Made Of?	p. 55
Stiff: I Wonder...Do Plants Have Bones?	p. 58
Predators and Prey
Blending: I Wonder...Why Are Some Animals Hard to See?	p. 62
Bright Eyes: I Wonder...Why Do Cats' Eyes Glow in the Dark?	p. 65
Body Temperature
Chill Out: I Wonder...Why Do Dogs Pant?	p. 69
Overcoats: I Wonder...How Do Animals Stay Warm in the Winter?	p. 71
Animal Movement
Glider: I Wonder...Can Squirrels Really Fly?	p. 74
Floaters: I Wonder...How Do Fish Move Up and Down in Water?	p. 77
Plant Growth
Sprouters: I Wonder...Will Seeds from the Kitchen Grow?	p. 80
Sun Seekers: I Wonder...Do Plants Move Toward the Sun?	p. 83
Plant Parts
Juicy: I Wonder...Why Don't Cacti Dry Out in the Desert?	p. 87
Browning: I Wonder...Why Do Peeled Bananas Turn Brown?	p. 90
Flowers
Scented: I Wonder...Why Do Some Flowers Smell Nice?	p. 93
Keepers: I Wonder...How Could I Keep a Flower?	p. 96
Three Bugs	p. 99
Collecting
Trapper: I Wonder...How Can I Safely Catch an Insect?	p. 101
Bug House: I Wonder...How Can I Keep a Cricket?	p. 104
Changing
Around and Around: I Wonder...Where Do Butterflies Come From?	p. 108
Break Out: I Wonder...How Do Small Grasshoppers Grow Larger?	p. 111
Moving
Creepers: I Wonder...How Many Legs Do Caterpillars Have?	p. 115
Springy: I Wonder...How Can Fleas Jump So Far?	p. 118
Communicating
Dancers: I Wonder...Do Bees Dance?	p. 122
Flashers: I Wonder...Why Do Fireflies Light Up?	p. 125
Eating
Munchers: I Wonder...Do Insects Have Teeth?	p. 129
Sippers: I Wonder...How Do Butterflies Drink?	p. 132
Camouflaging
Hide-and-Seek: I Wonder...Why Are Walkingsticks Hard to Find?	p. 136
Top and Bottom: I Wonder...Why Is the Top of a Butterfly's Wings a Different Color Than the Bottom?	p. 139
Spinning
Over the Edge: I Wonder...Are Spiders Insects?	p. 143
Spiderlings: I Wonder...Where Do Spiders Come From?	p. 146
The Human Body	p. 149
Skin
Pleated: I Wonder...Why Are My Elbows Wrinkly?	p. 151
Puckered: I Wonder...Why Does My Skin Pucker Up When I Take a Long Bath?	p. 153
Hair
Hairy: I Wonder...Why Do I Have Hair on My Body?	p. 157
Curly: I Wonder...Why Is My Hair Curly?	p. 160
Skeleton
Movable: I Wonder...How Does My Back Bend?	p. 163
Rubbery: I Wonder...Why Are My Bones Hard?	p. 166
Circulation
Plugged: I Wonder...Why Do I Get Scabs?	p. 170
Lub-Dub: I Wonder...How Does My Heart Sound?	p. 173
Respiration
In and Out: I Wonder...Why Does My Chest Move When I Breathe?	p. 176
Frosty: I Wonder...Why Can I See My Breath When It's Cold?	p. 179
Digestion
Choppers: I Wonder...Why Do I Have Different-Shaped Teeth?	p. 183
Tube Chute: I Wonder...Where Does the Food I Eat Go?	p. 186
Senses
Big and Little: I Wonder...Why Do My Eyes Look Red in Some Photos?	p. 190
Tasty: I Wonder...Why Do Foods Taste Different?	p. 193
Section Summaries	p. 197
Teacher's Guide	p. 205
Glossary	p. 211
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