The experimentation manual begins with an exposition on the dwindling supplies of non-renewable resources such as coal and oil. It then presents solar power and related technologies as an avenue of renewable power. Not a bad beginning, but the number of kids who read the first section of a manual is probably on the small side. I was interested enough to continue. The first experiments revolved around heating things up and measuring the temperature differences using the thermometer.
Sunlight heats things up more than shade.
The kit tried to bring in an interesting twist by showing that darker colors heat up faster, but this, too, is common knowledge for anyone who's worn a black shirt on a hot day compared to a white one. Instead of explaining why this phenomenon occurs or providing some insight, the aspiring scientist is pushed along. To be fair, I find it somewhat difficult to evaluate some of the experiments in this kit with an open mind. The concepts behind the experiments are so old and well known that IUm unsure as to whether I would have been interested at age ten. As much of this kit was oriented at these low-level revelations, the entire process of evaluation is a little shady.