Product Description

From physics to forensics, from the largest clouds to the tiniest ants, from Issac Newton to elephant dung, "Exploratopia" overflows with things readers can explore using the simplest, everyday items, such as eggs, paper clips, soda bottles, vinegar, and plastic cups. Kids will love these innovative activities and will have fun learning all at the same time.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #189280 in Books
• Published on: 2006-10-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 384 pages

From School Library Journal
Grade 3–6—Practiced young experimenters ready to strike out on their own will find enticing science demonstrations on nearly every page of this inviting collection. Each of the 21 sections contains a half dozen or more entries that feature easily gathered ingredients, clear directions, and color photos or diagrams that are not only informative but often arresting as well. Areas of inquiry range from explorations of one's own ears to bathroom studies of surface tension and bubbles, from creating a mummy (in this case a hot dog, dubbed "King Oscar" in the directions) to making a rocket launched by "100 percent stomp power." Murphy and company also include many experiments specifically designed to sharpen observation, logic, and measurement skills, along with other intangible, but essential, "Tools for Exploration." A closing section of hints and shortcuts, plus a useful directory of links on an associated Web site, rounds out an above-average addition to science-project shelves.—John Peters, New York Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
The Exploratorium, the "museum of science, art and human perception" in San Francisco, presents a lively compendium of science information, activities, and experiments. Divided into three broad sections, this large-format book supports a hands-on approach to learning. "Exploring Yourself" includes sections on the eyes, the ears, the nose and tongue, the hands, and the brain. "Exploring Interesting Places" offers things to learn in kitchens, bathrooms, backyards, playgrounds, amusement parks, and beaches. "Exploring Interesting Stuff" looks into language, music, math, money, paper, optical illusions, light, color, electricity, magnetism, and sound. With many color photos, cartoon-style drawings, and well-labeled diagrams, the book is brightly illustrated and visually appealing, from its eye-catching endpapers right through to the appended (and sure-to-be-consulted) "Hints, Tips, & Answers." Better written and more engaging than most science experiment books, this book encourages children to learn through reading, observations, and experimentation. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author
The Exploratorium, founded by noted physicist and educator Dr. Frank Oppenheimer in 1969, is an internationally renowned, interactive museum that sees more than 600,000 visitors every year. It was the first museum to encourage visitors to experiment for themselves, and it houses more than 650 hands-on exhibits within San Francisco's historic Palace of Fine Arts.

Customer Reviews

Another good book from the Exporatorium
Most of the Exploratorium books that I have purchased have been activity-based, so they're great for grown-ups (teachers, parents, etc.) who want to lead kids in discovery as well as for the kids who want to try things out for themselves. As a science instructor for elementary-aged students (pre-K through 5th grade), there are several of the activities in this book that I am going to use for my kids, but it seems well suited for the kids themselves because it also gives a lot of basic background information on everything from static to DNA. This particular book from Exploratorium is a bit different from the others because of its extra background information and would be a great book for an elementary-aged child who loves science and wants more information, as well as hands-on activities to explore.

I've been voted "Coolest Grandad"!
I am well over 13 years of age! -- I am approaching my 75th birthday. I bought Exploratopia for one of my grandsons and all grandchildren (who have reached the 'use of reason' thought Grandad's present to Aaron the best of all.
Not only is it a book of discovery -- every discovery gives you an experiment that you can to to illustrate what you have just read.
Thank ytou very much!
Bill M

Exploratopia
This is a great book. I am using it as the science curriculum for my 11 year old homeschooled daughter this year. So far my daughter's favorite projects from Exploratopia are guessing smells and determining the touch sensitivity of different parts of the body. She is eagerly awaiting the naked egg experiment. The book begins with tools for exploration, better known as the scientific method, that can be referred back to as needed. Each chapter is illustrated with photographs that demonstrate specific concepts. The activities and experiments are systematically explained with color drawings and text. The explorations encourage the reader to make observations about themselves and the world around them. The book contains a nice selection of activities that use easily found items and is based on current scientific understanding of the many included subjects. The activities can lead to further exploration of the topic. Each chapter has links to the internet, unfortunately many of the internet links have a significant cost in order to be used.