Janice VanCleave's Plants: Mind-Boggling Experiments You Can Turn Into Science Fair Projects (Spectacular Science Project)
Grade 4-6.  This series entry is inspiring without being flashy. Twenty experiments are arranged in logical, developmental order, from the simple to the complex. Beginning with cells, they proceed to seeds and seedling development, effects of light, absorption of water, and plant growth and reproduction. A good introduction describes the orderly process of the scientific method, encouraging readers to be thorough, not too elaborate in project choice, and curious enough to go beyond the contents of this book. Each activity is clearly described. The problem: "What is a cell?" Materials needed: common ingredients, easy to find. Procedure: provided in numbered steps. Results: "You have made a model of the four common parts of all cells." "Why?": the cell is explained. "Let's Explore" gives additional facts and "Show Time!" presents more ideas for investigations pertaining to the cell. The black-and-white line drawings are sketchy but helpful. Proper botanical terms are used and defined in the glossary. This is a fine example of helpful information that is neither academically dry nor ingratiatingly slangy in hopes of snagging "today's readers"; it is just right.?Carolyn Jenks, First Parish Unitarian Church, Portland, MECopyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.