Sports Science

Children's Literature - Michael Chabin

It's pretty clear that the authors are neither scientists nor athletes. Some of the activities in this book, like spraying a t-shirt with water and waiting for it to dry, barely qualify as activity. Most, like timing how long a child can hold her breath, are dull. All are common in elementary school science classes. Some are just awful. I don't know a 7-year-old who would be surprised that a brick sinks in water and that a block of wood does not, nor do I know an 11-year-old with patience enough to tape ribbons to a soccer ball and hold it in front of an electric fan to show that it is less streamlined than a football. The book is beautifully produced. The illustrations and photographs are great, and the kids in the pictures are adorable, but there isn't much in the way of sports here, there's even less science, and not a single equation, formula, or even graph in the whole book. That's a pity. One could make the case that the most effective physics labs in American schools are the playgrounds. That is where kids develop an intuitive feel for mass, momentum, inertia, spin, force, kinetic energy, torque, and much more. Children need a tool that will help them make the connection between the ideas they master on the playground and those they struggle with in their science and math classroom. Unfortunately, this isn't it.

School Library Journal

Gr 2-5-These 26 activities will allow children to see some real-life applications of science principles. A paragraph-length explanation of the concept being explored opens each chapter, along with mention of a specific sport or type of sport (swimming/buoyancy, various balls/aerodynamics) it relates to. For each project, a list of readily available, inexpensive materials; step-by-step instructions; and an explanation of what happened during the experiment are included. Each description is accompanied by a sequence of color photos depicting children engaged in the activity, colorful cartoon spot art, and a highlighted "Did You Know?" box. A variety of fonts in black and red add interest. This book will be an appealing choice for children and for adults teaching basic science concepts to tactile and kinesthetic learners. A note to parents and educators covers safety dos and don'ts.-Michael Giller, South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities, Greenville Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.