PENGUIN Science Lab

Grandson (7) finds science fascinating and he quickly became absorbed by the book apparently. Success!

This combines the glorious sumptuous DK colourful quality with some old-school DIY inventions and some science principles that expand the young brain, courtesy of the one and only who-couldn't-love-him? (Lord) Robert Winston.The only drawback is that when i sat down to do a project with my hyper-enthusiastic daughter on a rainy afternoon, we didn't have many of the ingredients - lollypop sticks and sand and plastic bottles and paper cups etc. Maybe I'm just unresourceful, but I think this book should come with a list of ingredients. These items are all things that it would be perfectly reasonable to expect people to have around the house, it's just that - in this era of de-cluttering - we don't! So if you've got a huge stationery cupboard and picnic supplies cupboard, you may well find you have all the necessary items in store. If not, be sure to stock up before attempting any of the projects!

Obviously the name Robert Winston is one that is synonymous with science, but I wasn't sure how good this was going to be in reality - how different from other experiment books - but I am really impressed.It is full of step-by-step instructions with full colour photos, there are simple, easy to source "ingredients" for each experiment and the projects are completely achieveable at home.There is a lot of STEM style projects, but some are interwoven with physics and there are some chemistry experiments too (safe ones).The spaghetti and marshmallow tower was a huge hit in the holidays - replicating the first tower with the step-by-step and then trying out some of their own ideas. We have also made air freshener and copper plated a nail and made a spectroscope. My kids are keen to make the sand pendulum (but I'm hoping that they will wait until it's a bit warmer so that we can get messy with it outside! So it looks like we will be making a musical instrument next (now shall we go with a guitar or a harmonica!?)The broad areas covered are Forces and Motion, Liquids and Reactions, Shapes and Structures and Light and Sound - which all could sound quite dry, but when you mention the experiments to kids, they love them! There is also information about real world technology which ties in with the experiments and ways to test and tweak your creations. Brilliant book for home, school, guides/scouts or any other group of children to inspire them and get them involved with science experiments.

I didn't really expect this book to be anything other than perfection, and it didn't disappoint. It's one of those things that will educate, provide hours of fun for free (all materials are household items, or can easily be bought cheaply), and will help parents and children bond. It's a brilliant alternative to games, TV, media, etc., and I hope that many people pick this book up.The book is divided into sections such as: Forces and Motion, Liquid and Reactions, Light and Sound and Shapes and Structure, and there are at least 6 items (7 in F&M) to make. They range in difficulty from Easy, via Medium, to Hard, and for some you will need an adult (some use chemicals, hot water, scissors, etc).There's a good message about recycling in this, as a lot of plastic is used, but again, these are things are that likely around the house, or can be obtained for free, e.g., empty plastic water bottles, plastic cups that can be harvested from a vending machine bin, jars, etc.).There are 'test and tweak' opportunities, further testing kids' brains and imaginations. Some of these are time consuming, but it's worth persisting for the results. My Yr6 teacher son grabbed this book on arrival and is starting a classroom project from this, to look at making a crane and a stool, for starters.There's tons to be enjoyed in this book, lots to learn, and there are practical things that'll come out of it, such as air fresheners and the newspaper stool.

We've been collecting these Lab STEM books for home science and engineering activities, but my children are much younger than this intended audience which is roughly 9-12 and that is a good thing.We enjoy the Lab books so much it's good to know that there are continuation books once your child has mastered the first books and the knowledge and skills within.The key topics are Forces and Motion, Liquids and reactions, Shapes and structures, Light and sound.Activities range from making your own thermos to making a Tower Crane , the classic suspension bridge activity to a wave machine, spectroscope and automaton! All exciting and challenging activities to stretch and inspire the young STEM enthusiast.I highly recommend this series to all my home educating and school teaching friends when asking about home or easy science activities and I'm glad to recommend this as a follow on for older capable children too.