| Title | : | Science Experiments You Can Eat |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 254 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 1972 |
Combine with such books as Awesome Science Experiments for Kids to help junior scientists continue their learning, whether at home or in a classroom.
With contemporary information that reflects changes in the world of processing and preserving foods, this cookbook demonstrates the scientific principles that underpin the chemical reactions we witness every day—just by cooking.
And once readers have tested their theories and completed their experiments, they can eat the results! From salad dressing to mayonnaise, celery to popcorn, and muffins to meringues, this book uses food to make science accessible to a range of tastes.
Also included is essential information on eating healthfully, plus additional resources for further exploration.
Science Experiments You Can Eat Reviews
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Originally reviewed for YA Books Central:
http://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsnon...
Disclaimer: Unfortunately I was issued only a one-chapter sample of the book (15 pages) rather than the book in its 256 page entirety. As such, my impressions are woefully limited in some respects—for which I apologize.
I absolutely loved the idea of this book. As huge fans of Alton Brown’s famously cerebral cooking show, Good Eats, my kids have long enjoyed the marriage of recipes and ingenious explanations for the scientific concepts behind them. My hope was that Science Experiments You Can Eat would provide them with a similar merger of visual, whimsical, and interactive.
The book’s recommended age range is 8-12 year olds, but due to minimal illustrations and lots of dense text making use of more advanced vocabulary, I would recommend it as better suited for ages 10 and up. The meringue experiment (exploring the properties of egg whites) felt like an interesting and age-appropriate choice—given appropriate adult supervision. The explanations for why protein molecules behave the way they do under various conditions was clear and concise, albeit a bit dry in presentation.
I regret that, due to the sample size, I can’t comment on the efficiency of the overarching buildup in lessons and concepts. I also wish I could offer a rundown of my favorite section and experiment. (The chapter I was given was actually chapter 5 out of 11, and so I’m not certain how much more I might have appreciated the progression if I’d been able to read what led up to it.)
According to the table of contents, the chapters are labeled as follows:
Food For Thought; Solutions; Suspensions, Colloids, And Emulsions; Carbohydrates And Fats; Proteins; Kitchen Chemistry; Plants We Eat; Microwave Cooking; Microbes; Enzymes And Hormones; and Science Experiments We Do Eat. Additional tools listed include: Measuring Calories, How To Read A Nutrition Facts Label, Cooking Terms And Instructions, Equivalent Measures, and Scientific Glossary.
Science Experiments You Can Eat is inspired in concept and strong on the technical front. I would have liked to see more illustrative engagement in what small portion of it I was shown, but I do suspect the complete product would be a useful learning tool for kids in more of a Middle Grade range. -
I remember having this book as a child, and bought the updated version for my GED classroom - and it doesn't disappoint. It's fun just reading - and even more fun when you attempt the experiments. (I only wish I had a kitchen in my classroom, because many of these involve an actual stove.) This ties creating food (that actually is tasty) while walking through the chemistry, physics, biology of its forms and transformations. If you like Alton Brown, you'll love this.
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These updated version has modern drawings and easy to read layout. I used this book to add practical info and teach science in my lessons at my job as a youth librarian. One of my favorite parts was at the end when it describes how to read a nutritional label.
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Why is not all science taught like this? Why is this not an elementary chemistry semester? It even has home ec lessons included!
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A great book for kids, especially with Moms who love to cook and can help them. Some of the experiments are super simple, so even littlest kids can enjoy them (dissolving Kool-aid in water). Some are quite a bit harder and learn some of the higher grade science principles.
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Fun experiments for the whole family!!!
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Conceptually fun but it's visually very dense with minimal images or illustrations and occasionally complex ideas that aren't quite fleshed out enough for the target audience.
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502.8
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SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS YOU CAN EAT, written by
Vicki Cobb and illustrated by Tad Carpenter, is an enticing classic that blends scientific information, DIY engagement, and fun. Carpenter’s delightful illustrations and design complement Cobb’s clever text and interesting experiments.
What I like most about this book is that it teaches children to think while enjoying themselves. Cobb stimulates children’s hunger not just for food, but also learning. She encourages kids to ask questions—and to honor their questions. The reader-friendly book engages on many levels. It offers a wonderful range of edible subjects to explore in one’s kitchen laboratory. The book’s great organization—with Materials and Equipment listed before the Procedures and followed by Observations—makes it easy to implement the experiments. Space for interactive notes encourages and validates the reader’s visceral sense of personal adventure.
Just as I have saved my favorite children’s cookbooks for eons because they hold many moments of joy, discovery, and accomplishment, SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS YOU CAN EAT is a fun and informative classic! It’s no wonder that earlier editions, published in 1972 and 1994, have been revised and updated to include new procedures, new experiments, and new information on nutrition.
I also like the intelligent way Carpenter’s attractive designs convey an awareness of diversity. Additionally, elements like the Glossary and How To Read a Nutrition Facts Label add to the book’s educational value.
Highly recommended. -
A fun book full of science experiments that use food to prove their points and you can eat what you make. The instructions are simple and warn you not to eat certain things like iodine tested food.
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This book is really fun, it has all these different recipes for science experiments. If you have a science thing for school, you should use this(you can eat it afterward...)
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Just got this for Glen - was recommended in the Unschooling Handbook. Looks like a lot of fun - will review later.
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Science with recipes. Answers questions like "Why does bread rise?"
