Science Resources

Sometimes the best way to teach a subject is to lay some ground rules and then let students actually "do" what they're studying. This is especially true of science, a study predicated on activity, experimentation and the observation of physical properties. It's also one of the best ways to get kids interested in science in the first place.

If he hadn't stood atop the Tower of Pisa dropping things off the edge, Galileo would never have made his observation that objects of any weight fall at the same rate in a vacuum. Archimedes had to get in the tub to discover that it is volume that displaces water. And the only way Newton could discover calculus was by scribbling numbers on pieces of paper.

Your kid probably isn't the next Einstein, but that doesn't mean he shouldn't learn as much about science as possible, or that he should do so with his hands tied behind his back. The problem with a lot of science textbooks is that they emphasize book knowledge without taking into account the hands-on nature of science and science learning. Observation is often touted as an essential part of the science process, but rarely is it enforced in the typical school curriculum.

Science resources can change all that. There are plenty of fact-based books (particularly those from Usborne) that pair facts with vivid illustrations, and those are fun for rainy days—kids are a lot better at acquiring and retaining raw information than we often give them credit for. But those are just a place to start; the options are limitless.

One of the best sorts of science resource are books filled with experiments. Whether it's Explorabook from Klutz Press which focuses on fun activities and includes everything you need to complete them, or Vicki Cobb's Bet You Can! experiments using household items, or the more advanced Science for Every Kid books by Janice VanCleave, you aren't likely to run out of options.

Astronomy is more observation-oriented, and we offer plenty of books on that topic, too. The Stars by H.A. Rey is a now-classic guide to the night sky for beginners, while Starry Messenger explains some of the basic tenets of modern astronomy through the (detailed and beautifully illustrated) life of Galileo Galilei. Isaac Asimov has written a number of books on space science, as has Seymour Simon.

Just letting your kids outside with notebooks and maybe a magnifying glass is as good as any book for helping them develop a love of nature and nature study, though manuals to help them identify plants, animals, rocks, etc. is a good idea. One of our favorite such books is the Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock.

Keeping a well-stocked chemistry lab is a good idea for older students. Many experiments require chemicals, ingredients and equipment you aren't likely to just have lying around, so you'll need to be intentional about keeping a lot of those things stocked. Field trips are always a good idea as well, whether to a local laboratory, observatory, zoo, factory, or anywhere else that strikes your kids' fancy and has educational potential.

Whatever else you do, keep an open mind while guiding your kids' science education. The beauty of God's world and the excitement of learning about it should always be kept in view; whatever difficulty there is in physics, biology or chemistry should be met head on but not dwelt on or made cause for discouragement. Have fun, and don't restrict your science time to reading stuff—take time to actually do science, and you might find along with your children that it isn't such a bad thing to study after all.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he is a husband and father, teaches adult Sunday school in his Presbyterian congregation, and likes weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.

 

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232 Items found Print
Active Filters: 3rd grade (Ages 8-9), Perfectbound
101 Questions About Volcanoes
by John Calderazzo
from Western National Parks Assoc.
for 3rd-6th grade
$3.00 (1 in stock)
21 Super Simple Astronomy Experiments
by Rebecca W. Keller
from Gravitas Publications, Inc.
for Kindergarten-8th grade
in Real Science-4-Kids (Location: SCICUR-RS4K)
21 Super Simple Biology Experiments
by Rebecca W. Keller
from Gravitas Publications, Inc.
for Kindergarten-8th grade
in Real Science-4-Kids (Location: SCICUR-RS4K)
21 Super Simple Chemistry Experiments
by Rebecca W. Keller
from Gravitas Publications, Inc.
for Kindergarten-8th grade
in Real Science-4-Kids (Location: SCICUR-RS4K)
21 Super Simple Geology Experiments
by Rebecca W. Keller
from Gravitas Publications, Inc.
for Kindergarten-4th grade
in Real Science-4-Kids (Location: SCICUR-RS4K)
21 Super Simple Physics Experiments
by Rebecca W. Keller
from Gravitas Publications, Inc.
for Kindergarten-8th grade
in Real Science-4-Kids (Location: SCICUR-RS4K)
Adventures in Sound with Max Axiom, Super Scientist
Max Axiom, Super Scientist
by Emily Sohn, illustrated by Cynthia Martin and Anne Timmons
from Capstone Press
for 3rd-6th grade
in Comic Books & Graphic Novels (Location: FIC-COMIC)
Aerospace Engineering and the Principles of Flight
Engineering in Action
by Anne Rooney
from Crabtree Publishing
for 3rd-6th grade
in Flight & Aerodynamics (Location: SCI-PHYFA)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Album of North American Animals
by Vera Dugdale, illustrated by Clark Bronson
from Rand McNally
for 3rd-6th grade
in Vintage Science & Math (Location: VIN-SCI)
Album of North American Birds
by Vera Dugdale, illustrated by Clark Bronson
from Rand McNally
for 3rd-6th grade
in Vintage Nonfiction (Location: VIN-NFIC)
Amazing Story of the Combustion Engine
Max Axiom STEM Adventures
by Mari Bolte, illustrated by Pop Art Properties
from Capstone Press
for 3rd-6th grade
in Comic Books & Graphic Novels (Location: FIC-COMIC)
Amazing Thing Called Memory
by Kelley Williams
from The Good and the Beautiful
for 2nd-5th grade
in GATB Science & Health (Location: CUR-GABSc)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Animal Lives - 8 Book Set
by Sally Morgan
from QEB Publishing
for 2nd-4th grade
in Zoology (Location: SCI-ZOOL)
$16.00 (1 in stock)
Animal Lives: Snakes
by Sally Morgan
from Teacher Created Resources
for 2nd-4th grade
in Reptiles & Amphibians (Location: SCI-REPT)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Animals Up Close
by Igor Siwanowicz
from DK Publishing
for 3rd-6th grade
in Zoology (Location: SCI-ZOOL)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Attractive Story of Magnetism with Max Axiom, Super Scientist
Max Axiom, Super Scientist
by Andrea Gianopoulos, illustrated by Cynthia Martin and Barbara Schulz
from Capstone Press
for 3rd-6th grade
in Comic Books & Graphic Novels (Location: FIC-COMIC)
Awesome Engineering Activities for Kids
by Christina Herkert Schul
from Rockridge Press
for Kindergarten-4th grade
in Science Experiments & Activities (Location: SCI-EXP)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Bald Eagle
by Gordon Morrison
from Walter Lorraine Books
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Birds (Location: SCI-BIRD)
Basher Science: Astronomy
from Kingfisher
for 2nd-7th grade
in Basher Science (Location: SCI-BASH)
$9.99 $5.00 (1 in stock)
Basics of Cell Life with Max Axiom, Super Scientist
Max Axiom, Super Scientist
from Capstone Press
for 3rd-6th grade
in Comic Books & Graphic Novels (Location: FIC-COMIC)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Be a Kid Physicist
by William R. Wellnitz
from McGraw-Hill
for 3rd-6th grade
in Physics (Location: SCI-PHY)
Birdie's Lighthouse
by Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by Kimberly Root
2000 Paperback from Aladdin Paperbacks
for 1st-3rd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Blast Lab
by Richard Hammond
from DK Publishing
for 3rd-6th grade
in Science Experiments & Activities (Location: SCI-EXP)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Bolivar
by Sean Rubin
from Archaia
for 3rd-6th grade
in Comic Books & Graphic Novels (Location: FIC-COMIC)
$12.74
Bridges and Tunnels
Build It Yourself series
by Donna Latham, illustrated by Jen Vaughn
from Nomad Press
for 3rd-6th grade
in Physics (Location: SCI-PHY)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Can You Track It? Mammals
by Maggie Felsch and Shannen Yauger, illustrated by Tanya Glebova and Abram Felsch
from The Good and the Beautiful
for 3rd-6th grade
in GATB Science & Health (Location: CUR-GABSc)
Central Pacific Railroad
Cornerstones of Freedom Second Series
by Clark J. Evans
from Children's Press
for 2nd-5th grade
in Cornerstones of Freedom (Location: VIN-CORN)
Changing Weather
by Ashlee Klemm, illustrated by Vanessa Toye
from The Good and the Beautiful
for 1st-3rd grade
in GATB Science & Health (Location: CUR-GABSc)
$6.00 (2 in stock)
Coding Projects in Scratch
by Dr. Jon Woodcock
from DK Publishing
for 3rd-6th grade
in Computer Literacy (Location: SCIREF-COMP)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Continents: Antarctica
by Leila Merrell Foster
from Heinemann Library
for 1st-3rd grade
in Arctic & Tundra (Location: SCI-ECO)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Coral Reefs
by Jason Chin
from Square Fish Publishing
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Oceanography & Marine Biology (Location: SCI-OCEAN)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Crash Course in Forces and Motion with Max Axiom, Super Scientist
Max Axiom, Super Scientist
by Emily Sohn, illustrated by Steve Erwin and Charles Barnett III
Revised from Capstone Press
for 3rd-6th grade
in Comic Books & Graphic Novels (Location: FIC-COMIC)
Creation Astronomy
by Felice Gerwitz & Jill Whitlock
from Media Angels Science
for Kindergarten-12th grade
in Stars & Constellations (Location: SCI-AST)
$9.00 (1 in stock)
Dangerous Sea Creatures
by The Good and the Beautiful Team
from The Good and the Beautiful
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in GATB Science & Health (Location: CUR-GABSc)
Dinosaurs! A Drawing Book
by Michael Emberley
from Little, Brown & Company
for 3rd-6th grade
in Drawing for Beginners (Location: ELE-ARTDRAW)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Discover Science: Planet Earth
by Chris Pellant
from Kingfisher
for 1st-3rd grade
in Earth Science (Location: SCI-EARTH)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Discover Science: Rocks and Fossils
by Chris Pellant
from Kingfisher
for 1st-3rd grade
in Geology (Rocks & Minerals) (Location: SCI-GEO)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Discover Science: Weather
by Caroline Harris
from Kingfisher
for 1st-3rd grade
in Meteorology (Weather & Climate) (Location: SCI-WEA)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Discovering Mars
by Melvin Berger, revised and updated by Mary Kay Carson
from Scholastic Inc.
for 2nd-5th grade
in Our Solar System (Location: SCI-AST)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Dive! Explore Coral Reefs Around the World
by Sue Bettel and Kelley Williams
from The Good and the Beautiful
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in GATB Science & Health (Location: CUR-GABSc)
DK Animals Around the World
from DK Publishing
for 2nd-4th grade
in Zoology (Location: SCI-ZOOL)
$7.00 (2 in stock)
DK Did You Know? Science
by Emily Dodd
from DK Publishing
for 1st-5th grade
in Science Reference (Location: SCIREF)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
DK Eyewitness: Rocks & Minerals
from DK Publishing
for 3rd-6th grade
in Geology (Rocks & Minerals) (Location: SCI-GEO)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
DK Findout! Earth
by Maryam Sharif-Draper
from DK Publishing
for 1st-4th grade
in Earth Science (Location: SCI-EARTH)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
DK Findout! Engineering
by Emily Hunt
from DK Publishing
for 1st-4th grade
in How Things Work (Location: SCIREF-HOW)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
DK Findout! Science
from DK Publishing
for 3rd-6th grade
in Science Reference (Location: SCIREF)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
DK findout!: The Living World - boxed set
from DK Publishing
for 3rd-6th grade
in Zoology (Location: SCI-ZOOL)
$45.00 (1 in stock)
DK Guide: Human Body
by Richard Walker
from DK Publishing
for 3rd-6th grade
in Human Anatomy & Physiology (Location: SCI-ANA)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
DK Guide: Weather
by Michael Allaby
from DK Publishing
for 3rd-6th grade
in Meteorology (Weather & Climate) (Location: SCI-WEA)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
DK See For Yourself: Energy
DK See For Yourself
by Chris Woodford
from DK Publishing
for 3rd-6th grade
in Energy, Forces & Motion (Location: SCI-PHY)
$8.00 (2 in stock)
DK See For Yourself: Water
by Trevor Day
from DK Publishing
for 3rd-6th grade
in Earth Science (Location: SCI-EARTH)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
DK Smithsonian Space!
from DK Publishing
for 3rd-6th grade
in Oversized Science Books (Location: SCI-OVER)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
DK Smithsonian: Science
by Chris Woodford & Steve Parker
2nd edition from DK Publishing
for 3rd-6th grade
in Science Reference (Location: SCIREF)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Do You Really Want to Meet a Weasel?
by Cari Meister, illustrated by Daniele Fabbri
from Amicus Ink
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Mammals (Location: SCI-MAM)
Dr. Bonyfide Presents Bones of the Hand, Arm, and Shoulder
from Know Yourself
for 3rd-6th grade
in Human Anatomy & Physiology (Location: SCI-ANA)
$14.00 (2 in stock)
Dr. Bonyfide Presents: Bones of the Foot, Leg, and Pelvis
from Know Yourself
for 3rd-6th grade
in Human Anatomy & Physiology (Location: SCI-ANA)
$14.00 (1 in stock)
Dr. Bonyfide Presents: Bones of the Head, Face, and Neck
Dr. Bonyfide Presents book 4
from Know Yourself
for 3rd-6th grade
in Human Anatomy & Physiology (Location: SCI-ANA)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Dr. Bonyfide Presents: Bones of the Rib Cage and Spine
Dr. Bonyfide Presents book 3
from Know Yourself
for 3rd-6th grade
in Human Anatomy & Physiology (Location: SCI-ANA)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Draw 50 Sea Creatures
by Lee J. Ames, with Erin Harvey
from Watson-Guptill Publications
for 3rd-8th grade
in Draw 50 (Location: ELE-ARTD50)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Dynamic World of Chemical Reactions with Max Axiom, Super Scientist
Max Axiom, Super Scientist
by Agnieszka Biskup, illustrated by Cynthia Martin and Barbara Schulz
from Capstone Press
for 3rd-6th grade
in Comic Books & Graphic Novels (Location: FIC-COMIC)
Earthquakes
by Trudi Strain Trueit
from Franklin Watts
for 3rd-6th grade
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Earthquakes
Scholastic Science Readers Level 3
by Deborah Heiligman
from Scholastic Press
for 2nd-3rd grade
in Scholastic / Hello Reader! (Location: EAR-SCH)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Ecosystems in Your Backyard
by Nyree Bevan, illustrated by Phillip Colhouer
from The Good and the Beautiful
for 3rd-5th grade
in GATB Science & Health (Location: CUR-GABSc)
Egg Is Quiet
by Dianna Hutts Aston
from Chronicle Books
for Kindergarten-4th grade
in Nature Study & Journaling (Location: NAT-GEN)
$9.99
Electricity and Magnetism
Usborne Understanding Science
by Eliot Humberstone, Paul-Francis Law & Peter Adamczyk
from Usborne
for 3rd-7th grade
in Clearance: Science & Health (Location: ZCLE-SCI)
$2.50 (2 in stock)
Elf Owl and His Ecosystem
by Megan Noel, illustrated by Tanya Glebova
from The Good and the Beautiful
for 3rd-5th grade
in GATB Science & Health (Location: CUR-GABSc)
Endangered Animals Dictionary
from Scholastic Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Oversized Science Books (Location: SCI-OVER)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Energy Makes Things Happen
by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, illustrated by Paul Meisel
from HarperCollins
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Physics (Location: SCI-PHY)
Energy, Forces & Motion
Usborne Internet-Linked Library of Science
by Alastair Smith and Corinne Henderson
from Usborne
for 3rd-8th grade
in Physics (Location: SCI-PHY)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Everyday STEM Science: Physics
by Dr. Shini Somara and Rona Skene, illustrated by Luna Valentine
KiwiCo from Kingfisher
for 3rd-6th grade
in Physics (Location: SCI-PHY)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Experiments in Earth Science and Weather
by Emily Sohn
from Capstone Press
for 1st-3rd grade
in Science Experiments & Activities (Location: SCI-EXP)
$3.50 (2 in stock)
Exploration of Space
Great Explorers Series
by Felicity Trotman
from Barron's
for 3rd-6th grade
in Space Race & Exploration (Location: HISA-20SPR)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Explore Experiment and Discover Science - book only
by Anna Claybourne
from Parragon Publishing
for 2nd-5th grade
in Science Experiments & Activities (Location: SCI-EXP)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Explore Light and Optics with 25 Great Projects
from Nomad Press
for 3rd-6th grade
in Light & Sound (Location: SCI-PHY)
$7.50 (1 in stock)
Explore Rocks and Minerals!
by Cynthia Light Brown and Nick Brown
from Nomad Press
for 1st-4th grade
in Geology (Rocks & Minerals) (Location: SCI-GEO)
$6.00 (2 in stock)
Exploring the Sky by Day
by Terence Dickinson
from Firefly Books
for 3rd-6th grade
in Meteorology (Weather & Climate) (Location: SCI-WEA)
$5.50 (1 in stock)
Eyes on Adventure: Exploring Space
Eyes on Adventure
by Leigh Hope Wood
from KidsBooks, Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Space Race & Exploration (Location: HISA-20SPR)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Fall Walk
by Virginia Brimhall Snow
from Gibbs M. Smith
for Preschool-3rd grade
in Nature Study & Journaling (Location: NAT-GEN)
$7.64
Familiar Seashore Creatures: North America
Audubon Society Pocket Guides
by Stephen H. Amos
from Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.
for 3rd-8th grade
in Field Guides: Fish & Water Life (Location: NAT-FG02)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Fascinating Ocean Book for Kids
by Bethanie and Josh Hestermann
from Rockridge Press
for 2nd-4th grade
in Oceanography & Marine Biology (Location: SCI-OCEAN)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Fast Forward: Ships and Submarines
by Ian Graham, illustrated by Dave Antram
from Franklin Watts
for 3rd-5th grade
in Ships, Boats & Submarines (Location: HISV-SHIP)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Fighters
by Bernard Stonehouse, illustrated by John Francis
from Tangerine Books
for 3rd-6th grade
in Zoology (Location: SCI-ZOOL)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Finding Out About Things that Fly
Usborne Explainers
by A. Thomas, Karen A. Little
from Usborne
for Preschool- 3rd Grade
in How Things Work (Location: SCIREF-HOW)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
First Encyclopedia of Our World
Usborne Internet-Linked
by Felicity Brooks
from Usborne
for 2nd-6th grade
in Earth Science (Location: SCI-EARTH)
$7.00 (3 in stock)
First Encyclopedia of Science
Usborne Internet-Linked
by Rachel Firth
from Usborne
for 2nd-6th grade
in Science Reference (Location: SCIREF)
$7.00 (2 in stock)
Flood Warning
Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science Stage 2
by Katharine Kenah, illustrated by Amy Schimler
from HarperCollins
for 1st-3rd grade
in Natural Disasters: Fires and Floods (Location: SCI-EARFI)
$8.99 $6.00 (1 in stock)
Focus on Elementary Biology - Teacher's Manual (old)
by Rebecca W. Keller
from Gravitas Publications, Inc.
for Kindergarten-4th grade
in Real Science-4-Kids (old editions) (Location: OSCI-RS4K)
$14.00 $10.00 (1 in stock)
Follow the Water from Brook to Ocean
Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science Stage 2
by Arthur Dorros
from HarperCollins
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Water Cycle (Location: SCI-EARTH)
Forces Make Things Move
Lets-Read-and-Find-Out Science Stage 2
by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, illustrated by Paul Meisel
from HarperCollins
for Preschool-3rd grade
in Physics (Location: SCI-PHY)
Forest in the Trees
by Connie McLennan
from Arbordale Publishing
for 1st-4th grade
in Nature Study & Journaling (Location: NAT-GEN)
$10.95
Fossils Tell of Long Ago
Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science Stage 2
by Aliki
Revised from HarperCollins
for 2nd-3rd grade
in Dinosaurs & Fossils (Location: SCI-DINO)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Garbage: Follow the Path of Your Trash
Build It Yourself
by Donna Latham, illustrated by Tom Casteel
from Nomad Press
for 3rd-6th grade
in Ecology (Location: SCI-ECO)
$9.00 (1 in stock)
Golden Exploring Earth: Animals
Golden Exploring Earth
by George S. Fichter, illustrated by Rod Ruth
from Western Publishing
for 2nd-6th grade
in Vintage Science & Math (Location: VIN-SCI)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Gravity is a Mystery
Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science level 2
by Franklyn M. Branley, Illustrated by Edward Miller
from HarperCollins
for Preschool-3rd grade
in Physics (Location: SCI-PHY)
Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami
from kahoku Shimpo Publishing Co
for 1st-Adult
in Japan (Location: HISMC-JAP)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Great Whales: The Gentle Giants
by Patricia Lauber, illustrated by Pieter Folkens
from Scholastic Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Whales & Dolphins (Location: SCI-OCEAN)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Growing Frogs
by Vivian French, illustrated by Alison Bartlett
from Candlewick Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Reptiles & Amphibians (Location: SCI-REPT)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Hermit Crabs
by Sue Fox
from Barron's
for 3rd-Adult
in Oceanography & Marine Biology (Location: SCI-OCEAN)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Hooray for Inventors!
by Marcia Williams
from Candlewick Press
for 3rd-6th grade
in Inventions & Discoveries (Location: SCI-INV)
Hornets
by Sandra Markle
for 3rd-6th grade
in Insects & Arachnids (Location: SCI-BUG)
$5.50 (1 in stock)
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