STEM lab 25 super-cool projects : build, invent, create, discover

DK maintains its high-quality standard with this continuation of the Maker Lab series. Twenty-five STEM-based projects are divided into four categories: forces and motion, liquids and reactions, shapes and structures, and light and sound. Each activity begins with a double-page spread including a photo of the completed craft along with an introduction to the pertinent concepts. Required materials are listed (most, though not all, are common household items), time commitment and difficulty level are forewarned, and the step-by-step instructions are neatly laid out, with a clear photo accompanying every stage. Each project concludes with more information in a How It Works section and a paragraph illuminating real-world applications of the STEM concept being explored. Challoner doesn't miss an opportunity to contextualize the crafting in terms of STEM, inserting little asides into the margins though the pages never feel too cluttered. Between the crisp, colorful presentation and the interactive, kid-friendly projects (windup cars, Pythagoras cups, guitars), young makers will be sucked into STEM-filled learning fun, whether in the classroom or at home.--Ronny Khuri Copyright 2019 Booklist