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Sciencewise, Books 1, 2, and 3

Sciencewise

These activity books make terrific supplements used independently of any text, but the individual activities will be even more useful if you can use them as "hooks" to lead your children into study of particular topics.

Each book features 36 "Dynamo Demos" which are demos set up by the teacher. Students are presented with questions or challenges in regard to each "Demo." Reproducible worksheets allow them to write out predictions and conclusions before, during, and after each activity.

Each activity has a "For the Teacher" page that lists the objective, materials needed (mostly simple, inexpensive materials), setup instructions, safety concerns (when appropriate), outcomes and explanations, and an application example.

Here's an example of how a lesson works: In one activity the teacher floats some peanuts on the surface of water. Students are challenged to figure out how to sink a peanut without touching it. An inverted cup can be used to sink the peanut, which leads to a discussion on air compression, buoyancy, and early diving chambers that worked by this principle.

Book 1 is suggested for grades 4-6, Book 2 for grades 6-8, and Book 3 for grades 9-12, although most of the activities will easily stretch to include younger and older students.

In addition to the "Dynamo Demos" there are 18 "Creative Challenges" designed for independent student work. Students are given an instruction sheet (reproduced from the book) and one or more items with which to work. For example, a banana and 2 rubber bands are the provided components for a student constructed "bananamobile." They can add whatever elements the teacher allows to create a bananamobile that will travel farther than those of other students. Designed for the classroom, most activities will work fine in home schools, especially if you involve more than one child.

The author stresses science as exploration and experimentation rather than the memorization of facts, saying in the introduction, "What we regard as facts are at best momentary illusions seen through a veil of ignorance." This relativistic, post-modernist viewpoint rejects absolute truth, usually not just in science, but in all areas. So watch that your study of science does not inculcate this same worldview with too much emphasis on individual discovery and not enough on study of factual information.