Janice VanCleave's Machines includes 20 simple and fun experiments that allow you to discover the answers to these and many other questions, plus dozens of additional suggestions on how to develop your own science fair project.
Learn how an elevator works using a box, string, a paper cup, and some coins; build a bubble machine with cardboard boxes, Styrofoam, and wire; and much more. All experiments use inexpensive materials and involve a minimum of preparation and clean up.
50 fun, step-by-step experiments
More Winning Science Fair Projects, Hints, and Tips from Janice VanCleave!
What can you do to create an extraordinary science project?
How is a clear and easy-to-follow display organized?
What are the do's and don'ts of science fair projects?
Where will you find the best collection of science fair ideas?
The answers—and the fun—are all in this exciting book of innovative, easy-to-understand, show-stopping science fair projects. Discover how to develop a topic from your own idea; research, create, and assemble your project; then display it in a way that will make it stand out from the crowd. Tackle some of Janice VanCleave's favorite experiments on topics ranging from astronomy, biology, and engineering to botany, geology, and oceanography. Then let your mind loose to explore whatever topic most interests you. Enjoy working on intriguing experiments while learning the secrets of science fair success!
Praise for Janice VanCleave's books
"Stunningly clear, direct, and informative projects."—School Library Journal
"[They] not only teach children the basics of science, but also entertain along the way . . . great for kids."—Parentguide
Customer Reviews:
A lot of hype, book does not deliver the "best" projects.......2001-11-19
I bought both of Van Cleave's "Best Science Fair Projects" books for my middle school child and was not impressed, in fact, I returned the first "Best Science Fair Projects" book as it was simply a waste of time and money. Readers should be advised that the majority of Van Cleave's projects are for very young children in early grammar school years, they are not for children who are planning for science fairs at the middle school or high school level, at least not on a competitive level. Many of Ms. Van Cleave's projects are demonstrations of certain basic science principles and that may be interesting for parents to try at home with their children in their spare time, but how does a child convert any of these into real projects that are supposed to ask a question, investigate the question, and proceed with an experiment to prove or disprove what the child is investigating. I cannot see where a book that contains projects such as "Can You Make a Diagram of an Insects Body" and where the materials required are cutting out the Head, Thorax and Abdomen out of construction paper to make a model insect, I cannot see where this is a project worthy to be called a "best science fair project," much less receive the praise that the other reviewers have given.
Great Book for all Ages!.......2001-11-12
I think this book is great for science project ideas. I used an idea from this book for the 2001 science fair at MacArthur Middle, and I won first prize! My little brother who goes to Maryland City Elementary used a project and he, too, won first prize! I think that this book should be a must in every library and home. Thank-you Janice Vancleave!
Great Science Fair Guideline.......2001-07-16
...This book is very thorough. It tells you how science fair projects should be presented. It had sample science fair projects. It gave outlines on abstracts, reports, etc.
My only problem with this book was that it was too complex for my daughter to understand on her own. I like my daughter to work on all her projects independently with only minimal guidance from me. There were concepts in this book that were difficult for her to understand, and I had to guide her through some of the ideas and explanations.
On a brighter side, she got an A on her project, and her teacher chose her project to display in the classroom as one of the teacher's favorite projects.
Won second place at Arapaho Elementary.......2001-06-20
My fifth grade son performed the experiment "Shadows" and won second place at the ... Elementray Science Fair ... The book tells you how to do research, write an abstract and write a report all on an elementary school level. The suggestions on how to do the display were the most valuable.
We are already planning our project for next year. I also have a daughter in the 2nd grade. There are enough projects in this book to last us until they are both our of elementary school. We only have to buy the book once and then use it year after year!
Format of book makes choosing a project easy.......2001-06-08
What I liked about this book is that your child can choose a science project by looking at the "Problem" (or the question) in the book. If the question seems interesting, they are motivated to perform the necessary experiments to find the answer. I also liked the display tips in the beginning.
Amazon.com
Whether your favorite middle or high-school student is interested in the demonstrating the greenhouse effect (with shoeboxes, soil, and plastic food wrap), sympathetic vibration (with a couple of soda bottles), or the breathing rate of goldfish, former science teacher Janice VanCleave provides helpful advice for designing experiments to impress judges at the science fair. In the first section, the author explains the importance of understanding the scientific method, selecting a topic, identifying its category, research, overview, experimental data, project summaries, the display, and presentation and evaluation. The second part of the book offers project ideas for 35 science fair topics within the categories of astronomy, biology, chemistry, earth science, and physics, stressing that "The point is not to copy the projects in this book but to use them as exploratory experiments...." Each experiment is clearly presented with a brief introduction, a statement of purpose, a list of needed materials, a step-by-step procedure, a description and explanation of the results, and ideas for taking the experiment in different directions. Nine appendices provide additional information on random error of measurement, percentage error, sources of scientific supplies, and more, and a glossary and index conclude the book. VanCleave comes through again with this inspiring, no-nonsense resource for science fair participants. (Ages 11 and older)
Book Description
A fabulous collection of science projects, explorations, techniques, and ideas!
Looking to wow the judges at the science fair this year? Everyone's favorite science teacher is here to help. Janice VanCleave's A+ Science Fair Projects has everything you need to put together a winning entry, with detailed advice on properly planning your project, from choosing a topic and collecting your facts to designing experiments and presenting your findings.
Featuring all-new experiments as well as time-tested projects collected from Janice VanCleave's A+ series, this easy-to-follow guide gives you an informative introduction to the science fair process. You get thirty-five complete starter projects on various topics in astronomy, biology, chemistry, earth science, and physics, including explorations of:
- The angular distance between celestial bodies
- The breathing rate of goldfish
- Interactions in an ecosystem
- Nutrient differences in soils
- Heat transfer in the atmosphere
- Magnetism from electricity
- And much more!
You'll also find lots of helpful tips on how to develop your own ideas into unique projects. Janice VanCleave's A+ Science Fair Projects is the ideal guide for any middle or high school student who wants to develop a stellar science fair entry.
Customer Reviews:
Janice VanCleave's A+ Science Fair Projects.......2007-03-30
Excellent! Well written, reader friendly and fun easy to do experiments.
Science Projects.......2007-03-13
This book is more advanced than I thought. It was not age appropriate for my daughter.
Very Useful.......2007-01-12
I have this book on my bookshelf at my work for the students to get ideas from. I could say that a few of them were very happy to use this book and begin their their science fair projects.
Average customer rating:
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Janice VanCleave's Engineering for Every Kid: Easy Activities That Make Learning Science Fun (Science for Every Kid Series)
Janice VanCleave
Manufacturer: Jossey-Bass
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Similar Items:
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Janice VanCleave's Physics for Every Kid: 101 Easy Experiments in Motion, Heat, Light, Machines, and Sound (Science for Every Kid Series)
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Janice VanCleave's Machines: Mind-boggling Experiments You Can Turn Into Science Fair Projects
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Janice VanCleave's Chemistry for Every Kid: 101 Easy Experiments that Really Work
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Janice VanCleave's Biology For Every Kid: 101 Easy Experiments That Really Work (Science for Every Kid Series)
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Janice VanCleave's Earth Science for Every Kid: 101 Easy Experiments that Really Work (Science for Every Kid Series)
ASIN: 0471471828 |
Book Description
Now you can discover the answers to these and many other fascinating questions about engineering for yourself with this fun-filled resource. Janice VanCleave's Engineering for Every Kid presents entertaining, challenging experiments and activities to help you understand the different types of engineering there are—including structural, solar, electrical, and chemical—and how each is applied to real world everyday situations.
Each of the activities is broken down into its purpose, a list of easy-to-find materials, step-by-step instructions, expected results, and a simple scientific explanation. Plus, the book’s 25 projects can easily be used in the classroom, as the basis of a science fair project, or at home just for fun!
Book Description
Janice VanCleave's A+ Projects in Chemistry Are you having a hard time coming up with a good idea for the science fair? Do you want to earn extra credit in your chemistry class? Or do you just want to know how the world really works? Janice VanCleave's A+ Projects in Chemistry can help you, and the best part is it won't involve any complicated or expensive equipment. This step-by-step guide explores 30 different topics and offers dozens of experiment ideas. The book also includes charts, diagrams, and illustrations. Here are just a few of the topics you'll be investigating: •Acid/base reactions • Polymers • Crystals • Electrolytes • Denaturing proteins You'll be amazed at how easy it is to turn your ideas into winning science fair projects. Also available: Janice VanCleave's A+ Projects in Biology
Customer Reviews:
My Review!.......2000-09-11
I found this book to be incredibly helpful and it helped me to finish a much needed science project. I enjoyed these fun ideas and learned a lot.
A breeze to find what you want!.......2000-09-08
Janice Vancleave's A+ Projects in Chemistry: Winning Experiments for Science Fairs and Extra Credit is a book that I would recommend to anyone who is having trouble thinking of a science fair project or doesn't know how to go about their experimentation. The book gives a list of what types of projects one might be interested in, which narrows choices down considerably. Janice Vancleave made finding a science project easier by naming and describing specific projects instead of just topics. When explaining a project she gives the materials list, the exact procedure, and the results that one should have. Not only does she include the basic information specifically needed for the project, but she also includes helpful hints on being successful in the display of the project and tells the reasons for the results to end up as they did.
This book has been a tremendous help to me. I think that it can help others do fantastic science projects as well. It was easy to find what I was looking for, and when I found it, it was even easier to understand without scientific phraseology that tends be confusing.
Product Description
How can your students create an eye-catching display? What can they do to impress the judges? Discover the answers to these and other questions in this complete guide to winning science fair projects. Learn how to develop a topic from any idea and find out the best ways to create, assemble, and present projects including special tips on how to display them. As your students have fun completing these experiments, they'll be learning the secrets of science fair success. 160 pages.
Customer Reviews:
good.......2005-10-10
Is a good book if you"re looking for ideas for your science fair. The book give you a complete guide step by step and a lot of project's ideas you can choose from.
Not Scientific.......2005-01-08
This book is fun and educational if you are interested in performing a DEMONSTRATION regarding a scientific concept. The examples have nothing to do with conducting an EXPERIMENT that one would present at a Science Fair. The "problems" listed for each example can be answered by opening an encyclopia. Generally a problem/question that begins with the word, "how" can be answered in such a way. The purpose of a science fair is to conduct ORIGINAL experiments involving an experimental group and a control group. There are other guide books on the market that take a more scientific approach and steer the student in the right direction.
Nowhere NEAR what I expected!!!!!.......2002-12-24
I bought this book in hopes of finding a good science fair project that could "bring home the gold." But all that I found was a kids science book that showed you what happened to fruit-flies in the light and other stupid stuff like that. It was nowhere near what I expected in such a highly reffered book. If you are looking for a good science project for someone above the age of 10 I would not recomend this book!
~SammieG~ -shibby!
Good Guideline's and Sparks the Imagination.......2002-05-01
I first saw this book in the library and decided I needed a copy of my own. I like it. I have two children in the age range targeted by this book - aged 12 and 10 - and a younger one I will use it with in the future.
We are using it in our classic-education style homeschool, and I find it a good tool for helping my children learn how to think, research their topic and write it all down. The book does not lay out every step of preparation for the projects, as previous reviewers may have expected, rather it gives a good basic and practical overview of the scientific method, and fifty topic ideas to spark the imagination of the child. It is not geared to the highschooler - VanCleave has other books that are for that purpose. The child still has to do the work themselves in putting the project together, and to my mind that is a large part of the value of the book. My children learn far more from their own research and experimentation than they do from following steps and copying the research of others. There were ideas in this book that I would like to try!
Terrible, These are NOT the "Best" Science Fair Projects!.......2001-11-13
I picked up this book for my son in 6th grade after reading so many glorifying reviews about Van Cleave's books and the fact that she has so many books out there. Boy were we ever disappointed! These are not "science fair projects" that a student can use for doing a science fair project in grades 5 and up, rather, they are trite projects for little grade school children or kindergarteners. How can a project that asks the question "what are the parts of a fingernail" and for materials required lists only a magnifying glass for the so-called experiment which is consists of a student holding the magnifying glass over his/her fingernail to observe, how can this possibly be a "best" science fair project? How can this be any science fair project at all? Where is the hypothesis, what is the real experiment, how could a student enter this in a science fair? Don't waste your time with this one, I returned it for a refund.
Book Description
- Why does a water drop magnify?
- How do crystals form?
- What does the inside of a seed look like?
Janice VanCleave's Microscopes and Magnifying Lenses includes 20 simple and fun experiments that allow you to discover the answers to these and many other questions, plus dozens of suggestions on how to develop your own science fair projects.
Grow penicillium mold in apple cider, compare your own and your friend's fingerprints, and investigate the lives of microscopic water fleas, all with either a microscope or simple magnifying lens. All experiments use inexpensive materials and involve a minimum of preparation and clean up.
Children ages 8-12
Also available in the
Spectacular Science Projects Series:
- Janice VanCleave's Animals
- Janice VanCleave's Earthquakes
- Janice VanCleave's Electricity
- Janice VanCleave's Gravity
- Janice VanCleave's Machines
- Janice VanCleave's Magnets
- Janice VanCleave's Molecules
- Janice VanCleave's Volcanoes
- Janice VanCleave's Weather
Customer Reviews:
Grandson loves it!.......2007-02-04
This book is a great asset to the Discovery Microscope. My grandson enjoys both and the book is a great teaching tool.
Book Description
The perfect science fair idea books … Spectacular Science Projects Janice VanCleave's Volcanoes
- Why do volcanoes erupt?
- How do scientists predict volcanoes?
- Where are most volcanoes found?
Janice VanCleave's Volcanoes includes 20 fun and simple experiments that allow you to discover the answers to these and other fascinating questions about volcanoes, plus dozens of additional suggestions for developing your own science fair projects. Learn about predicting volcanic eruptions with a simple experiment using a magnet, a nail, and a piece of cardboard. Explore the fiery unseen interior of a volcano using a potato and a plastic soda bottle. Find out how lava forms into rocks using marbles in a box. All experiments use inexpensive household materials and involve a minimum of preparation and clean up. Children ages 8-12 Also available in the Spectacular Science Projects Series: Janice VanCleave's Animals Janice VanCleave's Earthquakes Janice VanCleave's Electricity Janice VanCleave's Gravity Janice VanCleave's Machines Janice VanCleave's Magnets Janice VanCleave's Molecules Janice VanCleave's Microscopes and Magnifying Lenses Janice VanCleave's Weather
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- Linux Enterprise Cluster: Build a Highly Available Cluster with Commodity Hardware and Free Software
- Lorraine 1944 : Patton Vs Manteuffel (Campaign Series, 75)
- Lover Revealed (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 4)
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Janice VanCleave's Electricity: Mind-boggling Experiments You Can Turn Into Science Fair Projects
Magnetic Magic: Magic Tricks Done With Magnets
Science With Magnets (Usborne Science Activities)
Simple science experiments to add to your collection........1999-04-16
