Product Description

* Complete rules and display tips
* Hundreds of exciting projects
* Helpful do's and don'ts
* 50 fun, step-by-step experiments


More Winning Science Fair Projects, Hints, and Tips from Janice VanCleave!

What can you do to create an extraordinary science project?

How is a clear and easy-to-follow display organized?

What are the do's and don'ts of science fair projects?

Where will you find the best collection of science fair ideas?

The answers--and the fun--are all in this exciting book of innovative, easy-to-understand, show-stopping science fair projects. Discover how to develop a topic from your own idea; research, create, and assemble your project; then display it in a way that will make it stand out from the crowd. Tackle some of Janice VanCleave's favorite experiments on topics ranging from astronomy, biology, and engineering to botany, geology, and oceanography. Then let your mind loose to explore whatever topic most interests you. Enjoy working on intriguing experiments while learning the secrets of science fair success!

Praise for Janice VanCleave's books

"Stunningly clear, direct, and informative projects."--School Library Journal

"[They] not only teach children the basics of science, but also entertain along the way . . . great for kids."--Parentguide

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #96351 in Books
• Published on: 2000-01-24
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

From Parents' Choice®
The 50 original science fair projects cover the broad range of physical, mathematical and earth sciences and use low-cost, easily obtained and safe materials. The detailed explanation of how to approach and complete a project may be more valuable as a classroom and teacher resource than to an individual child, as it is written on a level perhaps more sophisticated than the abilities of the children who would select one of the book's unusual projects. A 2000 Parents' Choice® Approved winner.

Reviewed by Parents' Choice® 2000

From the Back Cover

Customer Reviews

A lot of hype, book does not deliver the "best" projects
I bought both of Van Cleave's "Best Science Fair Projects" books for my middle school child and was not impressed, in fact, I returned the first "Best Science Fair Projects" book as it was simply a waste of time and money. Readers should be advised that the majority of Van Cleave's projects are for very young children in early grammar school years, they are not for children who are planning for science fairs at the middle school or high school level, at least not on a competitive level. Many of Ms. Van Cleave's projects are demonstrations of certain basic science principles and that may be interesting for parents to try at home with their children in their spare time, but how does a child convert any of these into real projects that are supposed to ask a question, investigate the question, and proceed with an experiment to prove or disprove what the child is investigating. I cannot see where a book that contains projects such as "Can You Make a Diagram of an Insects Body" and where the materials required are cutting out the Head, Thorax and Abdomen out of construction paper to make a model insect, I cannot see where this is a project worthy to be called a "best science fair project," much less receive the praise that the other reviewers have given.

Great Book for all Ages!
I think this book is great for science project ideas. I used an idea from this book for the 2001 science fair at MacArthur Middle, and I won first prize! My little brother who goes to Maryland City Elementary used a project and he, too, won first prize! I think that this book should be a must in every library and home. Thank-you Janice Vancleave!

Great Science Fair Guideline
...This book is very thorough. It tells you how science fair projects should be presented. It had sample science fair projects. It gave outlines on abstracts, reports, etc.

My only problem with this book was that it was too complex for my daughter to understand on her own. I like my daughter to work on all her projects independently with only minimal guidance from me. There were concepts in this book that were difficult for her to understand, and I had to guide her through some of the ideas and explanations.

On a brighter side, she got an A on her project, and her teacher chose her project to display in the classroom as one of the teacher's favorite projects.