Janice Vancleave's Big Book of Science Experiments

Janice VanCleave once again ignites children’s love for science in her all-new book of fun experiments—featuring a fresh format, new experiments, and updated content standards

From everyone’s favorite science teacher comes Janice VanCleave's Big Book of Science Experiments. This user-friendly book gets kids excited about science with lively experiments designed to spark imaginations and encourage science learning. Using a few handy supplies, you will have your students exploring the wonders of science in no time. Simple step-by-step instructions and color illustrations help you easily demonstrate the fundamental concepts of astronomy, biology, chemistry, and more. Children will delight in making their own slime and creating safe explosions as they learn important science skills and processes.

Author Janice VanCleave passionately believes that all children can learn science. She has helped millions of students experience the magic and mystery of science with her time-tested, thoughtfully-designed experiments. This book offers both new and classic activities that cover the four dimensions of science—physical science, astronomy, Biology, and Earth Science—and provide a strong foundation in science education for students to build upon. An ideal resource for both classroom and homeschool environments, this engaging book: 

• Enables students to experience science firsthand and discuss their observations
• Offers low-prep experiments that require simple, easily-obtained supplies
• Presents a modern, full-color design that appeals to students
• Includes new experiments, activities, and lessons
• Correlates to National Science Standards 

Janice VanCleave's Big Book of Science Experiments is a must-have book for the real-world classroom, as well as for any parent seeking to teach science to their children.

Classroom science teacher Janice VanCleave has written more than 50 science books and has sold more than 2 million copies. In addition to authoring science books, she created the popular website, www.scienceprojectideasforkids.com, and has tutored thousands of students and educators from around the world through her website.

Introduction V

Part I Chemistry 1

Matter 2

Elements 3

01 The Periodic Table 3

02 Element Symbols 5

03 Atomic Structure 8

04 Lewis Dot Diagrams 10

05 Ions 12

Compounds 14

06 Chemical Formulas 14

07 Ionic Compounds 16

08 Covalent Compounds 18

09 Atoms vs. Molecules 21

Mixtures 23

10 Heterogeneous Mixtures 23

11 Solution: Concentration 25

12 Solubility 27

13 True Solutions 30

14 Colloids 33

15 Emulsions 35

16 Suspensions 37

17 Saturated Solutions 39

18 Diffusion 41

Physical Properties and Physical Changes 43

19 Matter Has Mass 44

20 Matter Has Volume 46

21 Relative Density 48

22 States of Matter 50

Chemical Properties and Chemical Changes 53

Acids and Bases 54

23 Acids 54

24 Bases 56

25 pH Scale 58

Chemical Reactions 61

26 Combination and Decomposition Reactions 61

27 Leavening Agent 63

28 Balancing Chemical Equations 65

29 Combustion: Burning 68

30 Exothermic Chemical Reactions 70

31 Explosions 72

32 Polymers: Slime 74

Part II Physics 76

Newton’s Laws of Motion 78

33 Newton’s First Law of Motion: Inertia 80

34 Newton’s Second Law of Motion 82

35 Newton’s Third Law of Motion 84

Forces 86

Noncontact Forces 87

36 Freefall 87

37 Gravity 89

38 Momentum 91

39 Apparent Weightlessness 94

Contact Forces 96

40 Buoyancy 96

41 Buoyant Force 98

42 Friction 100

Turning Forces 102

43 Torque 102

44 Center of Gravity 104

45 Stability 106

Heat 109

46 Conduction of Heat 110

47 Convection 112

48 Conductors vs. Insulators 114

49 Heat Capacity 116

Light 118

Energy 119

50 Electromagnetic Spectrum 119

51 Photons 121

52 Phosphors 124

53 Fluorescence 126

54 Phosphorescence 128

Incident Light 130

55 Colors You See 130

56 Convex Lenses: Focal Length 132

57 Convex Lenses: Rules of Refraction 134

58 Convex vs. Concave Lenses 137

Electricity 139

59 Series Circuit 140

60 Parallel Circuit 142

61 Energy Ball 144

Part III Astronomy 146

Space Measurements 148

62 Models of the Universe 149

63 Space Measurements 151

64 Apparent Sizes of Celestial Objects 153

65 Angular Distances 155

66 Sun Shadows 157

67 Albedo 159

The Moon 161

68 Moon Phases 162

69 The Terminator 164

70 Barycenter 167

71 Moon Motion 169

Constellations 171

72 Circumpolar Constellations 172

73 Location of Polaris 175

74 Zodiac Constellations 177

Part IV Earth Science 180

Geology 182

75 Density of Earth’s Layers 183

76 Volcanoes 185

77 Evaporites 187

78 Fossils 189

Geological Stress 191

79 Tectonic Plates 191

80 Deformation 194

81 Fold Mountains 196

82 Tension 198

83 Normal and Reverse Faults 201

Meteorology 204

84 Climate 205

85 Atmospheric Pressure 207

86 Sea and Land Breezes 209

87 Rayleigh Scattering 212

88 Seasons 215

89 Coriolis Effect 218

Part V Biology 221

The Nervous System 222

90 Eukaryotic Cells 223

91 Muscles 225

92 Afterimage 228

93 Perception of Color 230

94 Reaction Time 232

95 Sensory Receptors 234

Physical and Biochemical Changes 237

96 Chromatography 238

97 Denaturing Egg Protein 241

98 Denaturing Milk Protein 243

99 Ripening Hormone 245

100 Bioluminescence 247

Glossary 250

Index 279

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The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.