Experiment with Photosynthesis

April 1, 2015

Gr 2-4-For the most part, the plant-based projects in each of these collections range from badly designed to outright dangerous. In Living Environment, for example, testing the effects of heat on seeds requires labeling, moving, and then regularly topping off a jar of boiling water (though Higgins does advise adult supervision). Elsewhere, pinecones are labeled as "seeds," no advice is offered for digging up dandelions without damaging the roots, and children with pollen allergies are invited to "substitute the lily for a bowl filled with baking powder" rather than the other way around. Experiments with Pollination contains a nonsensical claim that "a seed will form only if pollen from the same types of flowers join." Each volume ends with an arbitrary piece of the scientific method. The closing lists of print and web resources are adequate. VERDICT Not recommended.

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July 1, 2015
Higgins guides young scientists through careful examination of botany concepts, from parts of a plant and their functions to the environmental conditions necessary for growth. The classic activities and explanations are well organized and clearly illustrated, although a trip to the gardening store will be necessary for specific materials. Together, the books are comprehensive; separately, content is thin. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

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