Experiment

The Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book: Boil Ice, Float Water, Measure Gravity-Challenge the World Around You! (Everything Kids Series)
$8.95
My son got this for his sixth birthday - and we love it! The experiments are easy to do, and most of them use items you already have around the house, or can buy cheaply. We've made it even more educational by having him keep a science journal, where he draws pictures of what happens, and tries to write a few sentences to describe it. Even my three year old likes to get involved, and while he doesn't always get the science behind each activity, he's entertained by the results. Our favorite activity so far: Balloon rockets!

The Experiment
$29.95
LOL, okay maybe not the feel good movie of the year. "This movie is a trip" said the Blockbuster clerk when I was buying this, and yeah I agree. I don't know quite what to make of this movie. I have my undergraduate degree in psychology so I'm familiar with some historical psychological experiments gone wrong. In addition to the psychology experiment many of the reviews reference that took place in 1971 @ Stanford there have been other experiments conducted that show how shockingly horrible humans are capable of acting when given power over others. When you think about how something like this is not only completely possible but goes on every day in every country in one way, shape or form, then the movie becomes less enjoyable. Plus, I could have done without all the male nudity - where's the women's prison version?! ;)

At least the movie was not grotesque. I was concerned after I had purchased it that it might turn out to be some torturous gruesome flick, but it isn't. It's more along psychological lines of humiliation, torture and power.

One thing that I thought they missed on this movie was the background of at least the main "prisoner" and the main "guard" which have the power struggle during the movie. It was explained that these two people were selected for the experiment and put on opposite sides because they wanted the confrontation between them, but we don't have any background on their personality development so we can understand why they have fallen into these roles. And the side story we get about the main character's girlfriend is just silly and really adds nothing to the storyline.

365 Simple Science Experiments with Everyday Materials
$14.95
I am a science teacher and believe strongly in a hands-on approach for learning, especially to apply science theory to real life. Without the application, it is all just science mumbo-jumbo.

I have taught for fifteen years, and teach a science class created for me by my principal. This is my third year of teaching this class.

I bought this book to add to my library of resources, but have not found one new or creative idea in this book. I would recommend this book for students in the third grade or younger. There are few steps to the activities, there is minimal critical thinking, and, frankly, the activities are boring. We live in the science land of CSI and older children and middle school children are no longer interested in seeing the celery change color as it absorbs water containing food coloring (this wonderfully new idea is in the book).

Instead, I recommend getting books by Mr. Wizard, Beakman's World, or Bill Nye.They have great activities, correct science explanations, and have great "wow" factor.

Scientific Explorer's Mind Blowing Science Kit for Young Scientists
$19.99
My grandsons loved this science kit. It was the perfect solution for 2 rainy days.