Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Recommended Resources Does a chemistry book like this exist?

Please bear with me while I fumble through my explanation...I'm trying to find a book for my son (he's five, but the book could be on any level--I'd probably have to read it w/him anyway) that describes how things (in every day life) change on a molecular (I think) level. For example, what happens when water freezes...I mean he wants to know what happens specifically to the hydrogen and oxygen molecules; same thing for when water boils etc...hmm...I'm trying to think of more examples and coming up blank right now, but that's the gist of it.

If anyone has half a clue what I'm talking about that would be great! Even better if anyone has any suggestions!!

Thanks!

Here is a site that has some of these explanations. If you look over to the right, there is a list that includes topics like "States" and "Phase change". Start with the "Matter" page and then go straight down the list.

I know that Isaac Asimov wrote a couple of great, very conversational science essays about water and ice that discussed the physical structural changes that happen during phase changes in water specifically. I read them when I was about 7 or 8. If you can get your hands on some of his books of collected science essays, you might find what you are looking for there.

Edit: I believe that the essay might be in "The Left Hand of the Electron".

Thanks! I'll definitely look into these.

DD loved the Magic School Bus episodes on molecular behavior at that age.

The one that I'm thinking of discusses soap molocules, hydrophobic "dirt" and the process of solute/solvent/solvation of particles via a very correct and cogent discussion (albeit a playful one) of colligative properties.

I'm thinking that there are some similar episodes that discuss changes of state.

ETA: I'm a chemist-- so I have pretty high standards for accuracy even in materials intended for children. MSB is awesome as a springboard for deeper exploration because it is so accurate.

I highly recommend Gravitas Publications Real Science 4 Kids Chemistry Pre Level 1! My son loved it! There's the text book, work book where they do the experiments, as well as a teachers guide manual. You can view the entire text online and view the entire books here as well as their other books in the series Physics and Biology! They are really awesome!
http://store.gravitaspublications.com/pl1_chem_print/C00PST.html

We also love all the lets Read and Find out series books here's one that you two might like:
http://www.amazon.com/Solids-Liquid...mp;s=books&qid=1303789020&sr=8-4

Thanks for the recommendations--they're all great!

I love the Magic School Bus Episodes too--didn't know about that one, will have to check it out.

The Real Science 4 Kids site is great! Hard to believe it's free!

I'm going to see if they have your other recommendation at my local book store.

Thanks again!

HK
Did you think the videos were as good as the original books? I avoided the videos because I assumed they were like the chapter books, rather simplistic with the science. DS 5 (at 4) LOVED the original books and is disappointed there aren't any new ones.

DeHe

bbq7
Have you seen the simon basher books? Some other thread here recommended them and they are really nicely done. Although I can't remember if they have the exact specificity your DS is looking for.
Basher/Physics

also, if your guy is sciency like mine, you can't go wrong with the brainwaves, we have all of them except the invetors one, and DS LOVES them - he goes back to them again and again because there is so much info there
brainwaves

DeHe

www.brainpop.com is also good

I wanted to just warn you because when I looked into this series recently - thinking it looked really good - I found this:

From here: http://www.gravitaspublications.com/

As a secular family that set off alarm bells for me! If you are happy with that viewpoint, it does look very good. It's probably more of an issue in the biology books, rather than chemistry. (An aware parent could probably taylor it too, I suppose. I just hate it when someone tried to sneak one past me, so I wouldn't pay for it!)

Well, we usually used them in tandem with the original books. The videos were pretty good, in my opinion-- but there was a LOT of content and it went by pretty rapidly. Luckily, DD was so addicted to them that she watched the same ones several times and would find new things in them each run-through. They are very clever and funny. Lots of inside jokes for sciency types-- rather the way 101 Dalmations is a clever movie for adults as well as children.

I did try the magnetism chapter book, and I have to agree that it was fairly disappointing, overall.

My daughter also found the CD-ROM based video games of the MSB series very engaging when she was 4-7 yo, too. I don't know that they were super content-rich, but she enjoyed them.

Thanks--although the books/sites might not be exactly what I was looking for, they're still great! He is definitely "sciency", so there's no such thing as too many books/sites!! Especially since I haven't heard of some of these--he'll love them!

One more thing I have to share!...We love the They Might be Giants Science songs/videos, they're really great! Here's the links to some of our favorites .

Hey, who let in all these elephants?

JB