Get Ready for a Winning Science Project

January 1, 2012

Gr 3-6-Each title in this appealing and informative series is full of useful directions and activities. Friendly, conversational texts written in a positive and upbeat style, on pages that appear to be from a notebook, present information in a simple step-by-step format, taking readers through the planning, research, compiling, and polishing involved in seeing a project to successful completion. Science Project examines focusing on a topic, observation, and defining a problem, while Family History provides ideas for beginning a genealogy search, explaining how to get started, where to find family information, and the value of oral histories and suggests creative ideas for putting everything together and sharing. Ideas for creating a story in Digital Portfolio include setting goals, planning, and equipment; in Social Studies, ideas cover how to organize a group to work together, as well as brainstorming and listening to one another, finding a place to work, getting along, etc. Many colorful drawings, diagrams, and photos; short bulleted lists; and helpful orange and yellow "Try This!" and "Did You Know" text boxes reinforce material and provide examples to follow. The cheerful, easy-to-follow presentations result in attractive guides for what might otherwise be daunting assignments.-Susan Shaver, Hemingford Public Schools, NE

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