You know how students of all ages can benefit from hands on learning? Today’s books guarantees it for your middle and high school students, as they work to understand the periodic table better. In The Electric Pickle, you will find 50 experiments on the periodic table from aluminum to zinc. As you can see, some elements have one experiment, where others will have two or more.
I found the experiments used easily found household items. The full colour pictures were clear. The instruction were written in plain English. Any items that were not readily available in your household were clearly spelled out where you could probably find them, for instance not everyone will have a universal indicator so you’re told to go to a chemical supply store or to www.homeschoolsciencetools.com.
Not only were you told what to do, you are also told what to expect to happen and why works. Any potentially dangerous things were highlighted in bold. I appreciated that the first time you were taught about a particular element on the periodic table, a brief explanation of that element was given.
What experiments did we try?
Incredible shrinking potato chip bag: My lad’s reaction “OH COOL!!! Why does that happen??” He listened and then said “I want to do it again!!!”
Ghastly green eggs: My lad’s reaction “GAH! What’s that smell!!! I’m throwing this out.. that’s disgusting. Is that why you cook eggs the way you do mom?” Good to have science come to life you know? 🙂
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The Electric Pickle:50 Experiments from the periodic table, from Aluminun to Zinc. Chicago Review Press Softcover, 272 pages Science, middle school, high school, experiments Reviewed for: Chicago Review Press |
Where can you find?
Amazon.ca: The Electric Pickle. Amazon.com: The Electric Pickle.
OK, I give. . . what does the chip bag shrinking with heat have to do with the Aluminum? I thought chip bags were make of various layers (usually 3) of polymer (plastic) compounds and a layer of aluminum. Wouldn’t it shrink because the polymers contract with heat and not the aluminum? (can you tell I am a geek at heart?) 🙂
I could tell you to go get the book but… yes. The polymer aluminum polymer layer reacts to the heat by vibrating faster causes the polymers to revert back to their natural state. The crinkling and sparks you see fly are because of the aluminum. 🙂 (in the nut shell)
What a neat book. We would enjoy this one!
I thought it was pretty neat