Penny Norman, Ph.D.
Norman & Globus, Inc.
www.ScienceWiz.com
510-222-2638
P.O. Box 20533
El Sobrante, CA 94820-0533
ScienceWiz™ Inventions has everything you need to build a light flashing generator, motor, clicking telegraph, spinning motor and a real radio! Virtually everything you need is included in the 30 piece kit, although some common household items will be needed, such as white glue, scissors, aluminum foil, and cardboard. A very detailed 40 page book walks you through each project step-by-step. There are five major projects which students ages 8 and up can build. They can also use their imagination and what they have learned to experiment with other inventions of their own.
The book starts students out with making a coil and moves on to build a motor, explaining how the motor works with full 3-D illustrations. Hands-on and visual learners will gain a greater understanding of how electricity works. The book continues to provide step-by-step instructions on how to complete all of the projects in the same manner so that the student not only builds the project, but understands the concept of how and why it works. The kit is great for all students who want to expand their understanding of science inventions. Teachers will appreciate using this project to complement their science lessons.
The instructions are well written and the pictures are great! My 11 year old son really liked the spinning motor the best; it was definitely his favorite. However, he had difficulty with the telegraph and radio. At first, the radio would not make any sounds because he had some of the parts backwards, but after he turned it around it worked fine. We also had some trouble with the telegraph because the paper clip would not tap on the nail head easily while making the telegraph clicker. Younger students can definitely participate in the projects, but will need help from a parent or teacher.
The kit was fun to use and the students learned a lot about science and electricity. At first, the price seems high for what comes in the kit, but considering how valuable the instruction book is, the price seems just about right! Some fun videos about what students can learn in this kit are available to watch for free at www.sciencewiz.com/books/inventions.htm and make a great supplement to add to the value of the kit. Other science kits are also available in this series such as Atom, Chemistry, Light, Energy and more.
Product Review by Rebecca Huff, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, November, 2008
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