Janice VanCleave's A+ Projects in Chemistry: Winning Experiments for Science Fairs and Extra Credit
#1 in Janice VanCleave'S A+ Projects Series
What’s inside...
Janice VanCleave's A+ Projects in Chemistry provides a detailed and accessible guide for students seeking ideas for science fair projects or extra credit in chemistry class. Covering 30 different topics, the book offers a plethora of experiment ideas that require minimal and inexpensive equipment. It includes helpful resources such as charts, diagrams, and illustrations to enhance understanding. Topics explored include acid/base reactions, polymers, crystals, electrolytes, and denaturing proteins. This guide simplifies the process of turning creative ideas into successful science fair projects and is part of a series that also includes a guide for biology.
Discussion points
What was your favorite experiment in the book and why did it interest you?
How do you think understanding chemistry helps us in everyday life?
Can you think of a problem you would like to solve using chemistry?
What are the safety measures you would consider while conducting these experiments?
How do you think the experiments in this book help in understanding the scientific method?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to explain the science behind each experiment. This reinforces their understanding and retention of the material.
Discuss the real-world applications of each experiment to illustrate the relevance of chemistry in daily life.
After reading, ask your child to draw a picture or create a model of their favorite experiment. This adds a creative dimension to their learning experience.
Set up a mini-lab at home to conduct some of the safer experiments together, promoting a hands-on learning experience.
Use examples from the book to discuss the importance of safety and precision in scientific experiments.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Scientific Inquiry Skills
Explanation: The book guides children through the process of developing and testing hypotheses using real-life chemistry experiments.
Real-World Application: Children learn to approach problems systematically and think critically, skills that are valuable in academic settings and everyday decision-making.
Example Lesson: Importance of Following Instructions
Explanation: Each experiment in the book comes with detailed, step-by-step instructions that children must follow to achieve the desired results.
Real-World Application: This teaches the value of precision and adherence to guidelines, which can be applied in future academic projects or in following real-life recipes or instructions.
Example Lesson: Creativity in Science
Explanation: The book encourages children to modify experiments or create their own, fostering creativity within scientific parameters.
Real-World Application: This highlights how creativity is not limited to arts but is an integral part of scientific problem-solving and innovation, useful in educational pursuits and personal projects.
Example Lesson: Understanding the Scientific Method
Explanation: The experiments are designed to utilize the scientific method, teaching children how to observe, predict, experiment, and conclude.
Real-World Application: Understanding the scientific method enhances logical thinking and can be applied to systematically solve any problems they encounter in school or in life.