Awesome Chemistry Experiments for Kids
By Adrian Dingle
Illustrated by Conor Buckley
Rockridge Press, Callisto Publishers
Publication June 15, 2021
Adrian Dingle has provided the chemistry book we have desperately needed throughout this pandemic. Here are the hands-on experiments with household objects that children will love trying out. Like most student experiment books, this provides a list of items needed and step-by-step instructions. What sets this book apart are these features:
- Difficulty level
- Mess-O-Meter: Minor, Medium, Major (do these outside, please!)
- Now Try This! section: Provides additional experiments with slight modifications. This is incredibly important in studying science. The opportunity to do an experiment with one change and see how the outcomes change.
- STEAM Connection: Seeing the implications or the considerations of this small experiment to the larger world.
Here’s what I noticed throughout the book. Scientific words that are mentioned the first time in the book are bolded and either explained immediately or located in the glossary. When the materials called for test tubes that I do not keep lying around the house, it also says that 2-ounce squeeze bottles – like food coloring bottles – will work (Water Splitting experiment, pg. 20). I really appreciate that the experiments really use household items. I do not have in my home every item for every experiment, but I have 90%.
In general, this is not hand-to-the-child-and-hope-they-follow-the-instructions book. Adult supervision is required. But you will find that students has young as 5 yr. old will be able to follow some of the instructions. And teenage students (though this is mainly for 5-12 yr olds) may discover something about circuitry with a simple cooking experiment (Doughy Circuits, pg. 70).
Caveats:
- I was offered a free advanced copy by Callisto Publishers with no obligation to provide a review.
- Adrian Dingle taught all three of my children AP Chemistry. All of them really enjoyed learning from him, though they choose engineering instead of science (software engineer, mechanical engineer, and computer engineer).