Kid Science: You Gotta Try This! Book Review

You Gotta Try This! Absolutely Irresistible Science by Vicki Cobb was in the science section at the library so it seemed like there might be a few experiments worth trying in there.  I thought that it might be a good idea to try to some more summer activities.

The book was pages and pages of science experiments.  I think that the book was a little outdated because it did use film canisters and other things that are harder to get your hands on in the digital age.  It is sad to say that my son will probably never understand what film is and that there was film in a camera but this book is from 1999 so take it all with a grain of salt (because if you can believe it that was a long time ago).  But there were a ton of fun science activities through out the book that you can still do. 

I was looking for those that only took things that I already had around the house so that I didn't have to go out and buy anything or at least cheaper things to get so that we could have fun and maybe do them for years to come.  There is one where the kids put together straws to see how long they can make it before they can't suck up the stuff in the cup or glass.  I think that is a good trick at any age.  I know that we have a twisty straw that is a little bit too much effort because there are too many twists and turns.  There are other interesting things like the antibubble gizmo where you use a tall jar, vegetable oil, rubbing alcohol, and food coloring.  Pour the oil in the jar until half full and then add the rubbing alcohol until the jar is full.  Put a drop or two of food coloring and tighten the top.  Check to make sure that there are no air bubbles by turning it upside down.  If there are any bubbles, open and add more rubbing alcohol.  Shake the jar and produce different patterns in the oil.  It will look like a lot of the bubble gizmos that people have on their desks.  There are lot of interesting things like this that you can try with your kids.

I hope that you check out the book and see if there are a few that you can do to create shock and awe with your kids.  I know that science is a really neat thing to be interested and doing experiments even at young ages gets kids interested in science.  I hope to use a few of these tips for the coming years and finding ones that are age appropriate every year.  The great thing is that they are using mostly things that you have around the house so it is super easy and frugal to pull out something at the last minute to make an entertaining activity for the kids.  I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did!