Samuel Cord Stier - Science in seconds for kids : over 100 experiments and activities you can do in ten minutes or less

SAM STIER AND JEAN POTTER

SECOND EDITION

Copyright 2021 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

First edition copyright 1995 by Jean Potter.

Published by Jossey-Bass

A Wiley Imprint

111 River St., Hoboken N.J. 07030

www.josseybass.com

Published simultaneously in Canada.

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Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty: While the publisher and author have used their best efforts in preparing this book, they make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales representatives or written sales materials. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation. You should consult with a professional where appropriate. Neither the publisher nor author shall be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.

The publisher and the author have made every reasonable effort to ensure that the activities in this book are safe when conducted as instructed but assume no responsibility for any damage caused or sustained while performing the activities in this book. Parents, guardians, and/or teachers should supervise young readers who undertake the activities in this book.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Stier, Sam, author. | Potter, Jean, 1947- author.

Title: Science in seconds for kids : over 100 experiments and activities you can do in ten minutes or less / Sam Stier, Jean Potter.

Description: Second edition. | Hoboken, N.J. : Jossey-Bass, [2021] | Includes index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2020027684 (print) | LCCN 2020027685 (ebook) | ISBN 9781119685470 (paperback) | ISBN 9781119685500 (adobe pdf) | ISBN 9781119685517 (epub)

Subjects: LCSH: ScienceExperimentsJuvenile literature.

Classification: LCC Q164 .S78 2021 (print) | LCC Q164 (ebook) | DDC 507.8dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020027684

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020027685

Cover Design: Wiley

Cover Images: chemistry icon M.Style/Shutterstock, timer iconim/Shutterstock, kids style font Knstart Studio/Shutterstock

SECOND EDITION

This book is dedicated to my dear friend James H. Harless in appreciation for his friendship and love for fellow man and for his significant contributions to the field of education.

Jean

To teachers everywhere who guide children toward a good life by fostering wonder, curiosity, and discovery sensations evolution has given us the capacity to feel that have made humankind what it is today.

Sam

Special thanks to:

Robert M. Frostig, science teacher, Horace Mann Junior High School, Charleston, West Virginia.

Michael J. Chovanec, physics teacher; Tobin George, biology teacher; William Fry, science teacher; Hempfield Area High School, Greensburg, Pennsylvania.

Additional thanks to:

Thomas, my husband, for his incredible love and support.

Archie, our Welsh Corgi, for his companionship and friendship.

Shadow, our Russian Blue, for his constant vigil.

Mary, my friend, for love, understanding, and support.

Mom, Dad, Kathy, and Emmett, my family, for so many reasons.

Kate Bradford, my editor, for her expert opinion and advice.

Sam Stier would like to thank his most capable agent, Grace Freedson, for helping create the opportunity to work on this book, and Jean Potter, for putting the wonderful first edition of this book together. The challenge of explaining a wide range of fascinating, complicated physical phenomena to young children has been a wonderful opportunity to try and explain a wide range of fascinating, complicated physical phenomena to myself.

Science in Seconds for Kids contains 108 quick and easy activities and experiments that will help you discover the wonders of science and our world, from how rockets work to what causes lightning. Each activity takes only 10 minutes or less to complete. You will soon be able to look quickly into many exciting topics.

Science in Seconds for Kids is divided into sections by topic. If you are looking for a particular activity, you can find it in the Activities Index at the back of the book.

Each activity answers a particular question about science and includes a list of the materials you need, easy-to-follow steps, and an explanation of what the activity demonstrates. There is no need to buy special materials, but you may want to visit the Internet or a library for additional information on the topic.

Try to be very careful as you perform your activities. These tips will help:

• Be prepared . Read through any activity before you begin to do it. Collect all the materials required before you start, and place them in the order in which you will use them. Science can be messy, so wear old clothes while doing activities. Give yourself enough space to work and enough ventilation. Cover surfaces with newspaper in case of spills.
• Be accurate . When conducting your activities, follow the directions closely, and write down all results. Consider repeating experiments to see if you get the same result again. Doing an experiment more than once can help improve the accuracy of your results.
• Be creative . After completing an activity according to the directions, try to think of ways that you can change an experiment. Look for the results from your change to the experiment. Before you make the change, ask an adult if your substitution is all right.
• Be careful . Ask for adult assistance and supervision when using sharp instruments. Materials should be used for the purpose for which they are intended. Work cautiously.