Science is Simple

Over 250 Activities for Preschoolers

What do seeds need to grow? What can the wind do? What is dirt?
Like learning to count or read, understanding the fascinating world of science is an essential skill. This innovative book encourages three-to-six-year olds to predict outcomes, ask questions, and investigate answers. Watch preschoolers develop essential observational and analytical skills as they eagerly jump into the hands-on, interactive process that is science.

Science Is Simple contains 250 activities spanning 39 kid-pleasing science concepts. From magnets to bubbles, insects to volcanoes, there are experiments to interest each and every child. Budding scientists will "have a ball" learning about objects in motion or feeling the texture of their own homemade paper. Future astronauts will immerse themselves in making a rocket ship and watching it blast off! Children will be captivated as they learn about science and the role it plays in their everyday lives.

Science Is Simple includes:

• Individual exploration ideas as well as group activities
• An appendix with a list of science websites and other resources
• An extensive list of suggested children's literature related to the science concepts
• Letters to parents that explain each concept that their child explores
• Open-ended questions that encourage self-discovery, creative thinking, and new ways of problem solving
• Enough fun experiments to keep the children in your classroom learning all year long

Reviews

"This book has extensive lessons, directions for teachers, an includes objectives and simple activities as well as books and other resource ideas. The inclusion of suggestive observations and follow-up activities would enhance the children's knowledge and excitement of success and feeling good about themselves. Suitable for k-3."

"Science is one of those subjects many parents feel uneasy about teaching to their children, Some of the activities in this book are so simple you won't believe you're 'doing science', but the kids will find whole new worlds opening up for them."

"Science Is Simple is a comprehensive science book for early childhood classroom teachers. The book is beautifully laid out, integrates science into the curriculum, and is comprehensive with support material. I really love the 'Bringing Science Home!' component. A wonderful addition to the resources for teachers."

"This book would be useful for any teacher or parent of preschoolers. The author obviously has a lot of classroom experience and is very thorough in spelling out exactly what the teacher can do for each activity. I like her inclusion of children's book titles related to each topic, and her emphasis on allowing children to observe, explore and discover for themselves. She even includes letters that a teacher can send home to families for each topic. The book is very well thought out. The activities are age-appropriate, interesting, and seem easy to carry out."

"Here, in easy-to-locate format, is the distillation of enough science discovery activities to keep a child busy and learning through preschool and into the early stages of elementary school. What sets this book apart from its competitors is the well-rounded curriculum that Ashbrook has provided for busy teachers and parents to slip right into. Wonderful notes, in friendly collaborative and informative language, end each of the 41 explorations and encourage subtle parent follow-up at home. Activities are grouped so that children may accumulate knowledge, increase predictive accuracy, and become closer observers. All and all, this essential, well-thought out, theoretically sound approach to science for young children is a book adults who work with preschoolers will welcome with open arms."

"This complete guide to science includes information for families, stepped-out ideas, questions to ask children as they interact with materials, and books that correlate with each subject. Children will learn to think like the scientists as they engage in favorite activities such as observing insects and playing with water. Some activities require considerable adult help.'
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"'Crinkle, crinkle, crunchity, crunch, I love autumn leaves a bunch!' shout my preschoolers. We are in a nearby park gathering leaves and other material for upcoming activities at our classroom 'sceince table.' There we will be making leaf and tree bark rubbings along with nature collages. The students love this 'sensory' walk, and so do I. Planning the lesson was a snap, thanks to Peggy Ashbrook and her excellent book, Science is Simple. The book contains so many wonderful experiments, ideas, suggestions, and possibilities it is hard to know where to begin. Each lesson includes objectives, hints, a list of materials needed, enrichment activities, resources, a list of books to read, ideas of 'what to talk about,' and, thoughtfully, a 'Note Home to Families' which describes the concept under investigation. Unlike some other books of this type, Science is Simple includes a multitude of open-ended questions which guide the student toward self-discovery and creative thinking. If you have been looking for top-notch, sound, classroom-tested science lessons, this is the book. Highly Recommended."

"Teaching science to preschoolers since 1998, Peggy Ashbrook draws upon her considerable experience and practical expertise in Science is Simple to showcase 250 child-friendly activities spanning 39 fun and informative science concepts ranging from magnets, to bubbles, to insects, to volcanoes, to plant life, to physics. Science is Simple features both solo projects and group projects; an invaluable appendix listing science websites and other resources; a bibiography of children's literature related to science concepts; letters for explaining to parents each concept to be studied by the child; open ended questions for creativity and self-discovery; and child-involving experiments for every season. Science is Simple will prove a welcome addition to preschools, day-care centers, elementary schools, and homeschooling reference libraries and curriculums.
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