Make glow-in-the-dark stars! Learn how an Etch-A-SketchR(r) erases pictures! Create a kaleidoscope from your toys! Discover why a SlinkyR(r) slinks down stairs! Experience the science of toys and games with these quick, easyexperiments and activities from Jean Potter. You can complete eachin ten fun-filled minutes or less, and the clear step-by-stepinstructions and illustrations help you get it right every time.The projects help you learn about everything from why a swing goeshigher when you pump your legs to how Silly PuttyR(r) pulls upcomic strips from the newspaper. You will find most of the requiredmaterials already in your toy chest, home, backyard, orneighborhood. The 101 activities in this book cover every aspect of the scienceof toys and the games you play, including swinging, bouncing,throwing, sliding, and much more. You'll discover why a footballspirals as it zips through the air, learn how to make your cerealjump out of the bowl, find out why goggles make you see betterunderwater, and make your own homemade paint --all with the help ofa leading educator.

Make lightning in your room! Keep paper dry under water! Lose weight by going upstairs! See colors that aren't there! Experience the magic of science with these quick, easy experiments and activities from Jean Potter. You can complete each activity in ten fun-filled minutes or less. Clear, step-by-step instructions and illustrations help you get it right every time. The projects help you learn about everything from why eggs aren't round to how submarines surface and submerge. You will find most of the required materials already in your home, backyard, or neighborhood, and you can perform the experiments practically anywhere. The 108 activities in this book cover twelve different subject areas, including air, animals, energy, gravity, magnetism, light, the human body, and much more. You'll make a rainbow right on your floor, pop a balloon with a magnifying glass, make a coffee can roll back to you after you've pushed it away, and bend water as it streams from your faucet--all with the help of a leading educator. Children Ages 8-12

Simple and accessible, Science in Seconds is a comprehensive, entertaining introduction to 200 key scientific ideas. Each concept is clearly realized with a helpful visual and a concise explanation. The concepts included span all of the key scientific disciplines, including Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Ecology, Biotechnology, Anatomy and Physiology, Medicine, Earth Science, Energy Generation, Astronomy, Spaceflight and Information Technology. Utilizing vivid, educational illustrations--inspired by scientific research suggesting that the brain best absorbs information visually--these compact and portable reference guides are ideal study buddies or holiday gifts, and enlightening reading for all. Hazel Muir studied astrophysics at Edinburgh University before becoming a staff editor and writer at New Scientist. Currently a freelance writer, she still regularly contributes to BBC Sky At Night magazine, and has also written for Wired UK. She has won international awards for her articles from the American Institute of Physics and the Acoustical Society of America. From the Trade Paperback edition.

Do fish close their eyes? Can you hold your breath longer than a whale? How is sand made? Why do we hear the ocean in empty seashells? Surf's up for fantastic science fun with these quick, easy experiments and activities from Jean Potter. You can complete each in just ten minutes or less, and the clear step-by-step instructions and illustrations help you get it right every time. The projects help you learn about everything from how seaweed can forecast the weather to why waves break as they reach the shore. You will find most of the required materials already in your toy chest, home, backyard, or around your neighborhood. The nearly 100 activities in this book investigate the many mysteries of animals, plants, sand, shells, sun, and water. You'll discover why there usually are more clouds over water than over land and why the sand on top of the beach is warm but cool underneath. Use a piece of hard candy to find out why beach and river rocks become smooth or learn how to clean water with sand --all with the help of a leading educator.

Tracing developments in toy making and marketing across the evolving landscape of the 20th century, this encyclopedia is a comprehensive reference guide to America's most popular playthings and the culture to which they belong. From the origins of favorite playthings to their associations with events and activities, the study of a nation's toys reveals the hopes, goals, values, and priorities of its people. Toys have influenced the science, art, and religion of the United States, and have contributed to the development of business, politics, and medicine. Toys and American Culture: An Encyclopedia documents America's shifting cultural values as they are embedded within and transmitted by the nation's favorite playthings. Alphabetically arranged entries trace developments in toy making and toy marketing across the evolving landscape of 20th-century America. In addition to discussing the history of America's most influential toys, the book contains specific entries on the individuals, organizations, companies, and publications that gave shape to America's culture of play from 1900 to 2000. Toys from the two decades that frame the 20th century are also included, as bridges to the fascinating past—and the inspiring future—of American toys.

"Storybook Art" is the long awaited literacy connection to art with 100 easy art activities inspired by 100 great picture book illustrators and their award-winning books -- both favorite classics and classics to be. Each activity has a personal quote by the illustrator, a child-sketched portrait, clear line art, and easy to follow materials and open-ended steps that value individual expression. The book is loaded with children's original art, a special resource chapter with awards and website links, birthday list of illustrators, and a unique chart of contents. No expertise is needed. Everyday materials like crayons, glue, scissors, and paint will allow young illustrators to blossom while learning to love readin with a new awareness or art, illustration and technique.

"Explore the world of science by experimenting with the physics of toys and games"--

Science Rocks! is a cross between a science manual offering youngsters a variety of awe-inspiring ideas for projects that could enliven their school work, and a book of suggestions of fun things to do to fill a few spare minutes, an hour, or a day. By making use of everyday objects commonly found around the home, it is instantly accesible to all. Included are some tougher experiments to encourage family participation and group efforts, such as making outrageously large bubbles with dry ice and liquid soap. Meanwhile, the Brainwaves section features tricks and puzzles than can be carried out alone or used to test family and friends-perfect for rainy days or long car trips.

"ScienceArts" builds upon natural curiosity as children experience and explore basic science concepts as they create over 200 beautiful and amazing art experiments. Projects use common household materials and art supplies. The art activities are open-ended and easy to do with one science-art experiment per page, fully illustrated and kid-tested. The book inclues three indexes and an innovative charted Table of Contents. Suitable for home, school, museum programs, or childcare, all ages. Kids call this the "ooo-ahhh" book. Examples of projects include: - Crystal Bubbles - Dancing Rabbits - Building Beans - Magnetic Rubbing - Stencil Leaves - Magic Cabbage - Marble Sculpture - Immiscibles - Paint Pendulum - Ice Structures - Bottle Optics - Erupting Colors - Chromatography 1993 Benjamin Franklin Gold Award, Education/Teaching/Academic 1993 Benjamin Franklin Silver Award, Interior Design 1993 Benjamin Franklin Silver Award, Book Cover 1993 Washington Press Communicator Award, First Place Winner, Non-Fiction Book