Ideas for Science Projects - Richard C. Adams - Paperback - REVISED

School Library Journal

Gr 5-9--The relevant changes in this revision of co-author Robert Gardner's 1986 title center around computers. Experiment instructions now include suggestions for utilizing software programs. A few references to Internet sites appear within the text, and an extensive list is appended to each chapter with an acknowledgment of their "changeable nature." The authors also point out how computers can improve the presentation of a project, including the use of databases for bibliographies and spreadsheets for charts and graphs. In several cases, they alert readers to helpful technological tools. An insulation project, for instance, refers to a thermometer probe that can be attached to a computer, along with a vendor's address and web page information. Three new appendixes have also been added: "Science Opportunities," "Statistics," and "Spreadsheets and Graphics." Beyond these important additions, most of the text, including chapter headings, remains unchanged. Each of the 10 chapters covers a general field of study such as physics, "body-and-mind science," and electricity. In some cases, the authors provide enough detailed instructions to complete the project. Other times they offer an idea (make a telescope) that will require additional material to complete. Most projects are filled with potential research questions and suggestions for variations and expansion of the basic ideas. This remains a solid resource for science collections, and this revised edition should replace the original.--Steven Engelfried, West Linn Public Library, OR