Young Scientists Guide to Successful Science Projects

Experiments and investigations to teach necessary skills and prepare one for choosing a science project

Yet another book aimed at first-time science fair participants on how to design, conduct, and present a science project. The chapters break down the process into steps--identifying variables, presenting a hypothesis, classifying, preparing charts and records--coupled with simple experiments (great at first but they wear thin by the end) that illustrate the topic. The most important chapter, on choosing a project, offers several interesting strategies for picking a topic. All of it is good advice, presented with energy and enthusiasm; unfortunately, much of the information exists in numerous other books. Furthermore, this volume lacks a bibliography or a section on how to locate supplies--key information for science-fair participants. Attractive cartoonlike ink drawings scattered throughout sometimes aid the discussion, but at other times are just decorative. The best art is the cover photo of a science-fair project. Good but not great. --Alan Newman, American Chemical Society, Washington, DC
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.