Review by Booklist Review
Atoms and molecules certainly cannot be seen with the naked eye, but that doesn't mean that budding scientists cannot learn about their properties in observable and interactive ways. Slingerland utilizes an inquiry-based approach to studying the building blocks of matter, positing questions to readers that serve as the basis of each experiment, and encourages young scientists to keep a notebook recording their hypotheses, observations, and conclusions. The complexity of concepts ranges from extremely straightforward (building a model of an atom using bottle tops) to more advanced (creating dot diagrams to represent covalent bonds). Scannable QR codes and keyword search terms are included in the margins and provide instant access to online information and primary sources that complement each experiment. Tools for information literacy, such as graphs, diagrams, and tables, comprise a bulk of each experiment's directions and explanation. By conducting these experiments, young readers get a chance to observe even the most microscopic aspects of physical science.--Anderson, Erin Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
