Potato chips: They’re crunchy, they’re salty and they’re educational.
Huh?
OK – you knew about their crunch and perfectly salty consistency, but perhaps you never imagined that this popular snack could give your kid an edge in school. Until now. Potato Chip Science is a book and kit from award-winning author Allen Kurzeil – along with his son, Max – that gives kids the opportunity to learn about an array of science topics, from physics to forensics and neuroscience.
Remember when you were young and your parents used fruit to teach you about colors – or pieces of chocolate so you could perfect your math skills? Potato Chip Science is a lot like those old-school methods, but it’s extra-special because it comes with specific experiments and a bunch of tools to make learning both fun and effective.
This 84-page book from Workman Publishing Company contains 29 experiments that use all things potato – from chips to whole potatoes, chip bags, tubes and lids, which allow kids the chance to get hands-on with some tasty science. Kit items also include a digital clock, biodegradable lab knife and optical stickers, to name a few extra goodies.
When this bag arrived at the Metro Parent office, we were more than enthused to test it out. I mean, who wouldn’t want to use potato chips as a learning mechanism?
We peeked through the book and noticed each experiment lists the items needed and discusses the method and meaning of each experiment. The "method" shows you how to build it, while the "meaning" defines the purpose of the experiment.
So, why does a chip bag filled with 50 pennies float? Can potatoes really be used as batteries? With experiments like the "chip-ship challenge" and some potato battery fun, you’ll find out why these things really do work. From freezing potatoes to making a potato head, these fun and wacky experiments will keep your kids occupied for hours.
This book and bag of goodies provides kids with hands-on activities to learn all about science. In our opinion, you can’t get much better than that!
