Smash It! Crash It! Launch It!: 50 Mind-Blowing, Eye-Popping Science Experiments is not a book for the timid. Be brave though, and keep reading, it’s a great book for introducing scientific principles.
The introduction talks about “descructology” – the study of how different items like fruits and vegetables explode when they hit the ground. The introduction also says that if you follow the instructions the messes “won’t provoke a freak-out by your parental units”. I don’t know though. The first experiment involves dropping old tomatoes and melons out the window onto the driveway. The mom in me says no way, even though the authors emphasize responsible clean up time. The teacher in me says the book has great explanations of the scientific principles of collision, thermal and kinetic energy, inertia, and momentum.
Not all the experiments are that messy. One involves building and testing the strength of bridges made out of uncooked fettuccine. Your children will learn the physical principles of why triangles are often used in building. They can learn about inertia with a stack of nickels. They can make a whirlybird out of paper to learn about air pressure, velocity, and lift. In a demonstration of pressure being force divided by area, kids cans see how one paper cup crushes under their feet, but that they can dance on a dozen of them. There are also catapults, water-balloon launchers, speedy paper airplanes, flying marshmallow machines, pop bottle rockets, and cardboard race cars powered by balloons.
The illustrations are pen and ink. Many are very humorous. All the scientific terms are explained in easy to understand language. There’s also a glossary of terms. Each experiment has a side bar explaining the needing materials, instructions for conducting the experiment, and an explanation of the scientific principles behind the experiment.
I’d recommend the book for kids with brave teachers and parents. It’s very engaging and well done. I am planning on helping my kids with several of the experiments. But I’m going to hide the pages with tomatoes and eggs.
The book is recommended for grades 4-8. It was published by Lark Books in 2006.
Also See:
Snowball Launchers, Giant-Pumpkin Growers, and Other Cool Contraptions – Tom Fox
Kid’s Pumpkin Projects – Deanna F. Cook
My Son’s Science Project Is Out of Control