Simple Science Experiments With Water

Presents experiments demonstrating the buoyancy of water

Grade 2-4-- From Japan comes this series of collections of experiments using certain objects to demonstrate scientific principles. The circles in the first book are made from cards, paper, string, apple skin, and fingers, and frequently are more curiosities and tricks than "scientific." However, they are carefully described and should intrigue children. In . . . Marbles , the authors use marbles and occasionally coins to help experimenters see principles of transfer of force and momentum. Again the explanations and drawings are simple and clear, except for the description of a red marble as "orange." The qualities of the air around us are the targets of the experiments that use ping-pong balls, along with other common objects such as a funnel and a soda bottle. To demonstrate properties of water and solutions that make objects float or sink, vegetables, eggs, aluminum foil, and putty or clay are all employed. The large print and simple sentences on uncluttered pages make for inviting reading. Fujishima's attractive chalky pastels and Yoshida's transparent watercolors portray the objects and children manipulating them, along with an occasional appropriate, clear photograph; however, one illustration of a black child in Ping-Pong Balls is very poorly drawn. Otherwise these are useful additions to the multitude of books now available to eager young scientists. --Sylvia S. Marantz, Wellington School, Columbus, OH
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