Science Magic: in the Kitchen and Science Magic: in the Bathroom, By Richard Robinson Inspire article
The Science Magic books are part of a series of home-based practical science books that take as their unusual theme the use of items typically found in particular rooms of the house.
These titles both seem to be aimed primarily at parents who wish to discover science with their children but can be used by teachers to gain ideas for classwork or even to set as practical homework. They are probably best suited to the later years of primary school or the earlier years of secondary school.
As the title suggests, Science Magic: in the Kitchen introduces experiments that use either everyday kitchen utensils or food. The experiments range from standard bicarbonate/vinegar neutralisations, to heating plastic bottles to observe the effects of air pressure, to observing the decomposition of organic waste. The book provides good coverage of the three main sciences taught in most schools.
Science Magic: in the Bathroom moves the focus of the experiments to the bathroom with many of the experiments involving water. In this book, it seems that physics is the main source of inspiration with experiments investigating surface tension, refraction and sound.
Many of the experiments described are well known but there are some that, although not original in their basic idea, have interesting approaches that may interest the more advanced students with a keen interest in science. As such, both books are good value for money (£3.99 each) and would be a worthwhile addition to a class/science-club library.
Details
Science Magic: in the Bathroom
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Publication year: 2003
ISBN: 9780199111534
Science Magic: in the Kitchen
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Publication year: 2003
ISBN: 9780199111541