"Crinkle, crinkle, crunchity, crunch, I love autumn leaves a bunch!" shout my preschoolers. We are in a nearby park gathering leaves and other material for upcoming activities at our classroom "sceince table." There we will be making leaf and tree bark rubbings along with nature collages. The students love this "sensory" walk, and so do I. Planning the lesson was a snap, thanks to Peggy Ashbrook and her excellent book, Science is Simple.

The book contains so many wonderful experiments, ideas, suggestions, and possibilities it is hard to know where to begin. Each lesson includes objectives, hints, a list of materials needed, enrichment activities, resources, a list of books to read, ideas of "what to talk about," and, thoughtfully, a "Note Home to Families" which describes the concept under investigation.

Unlike some other books of this type, Science is Simple includes a multitude of open-ended questions which guide the student toward self-discovery and creative thinking.

If you have been looking for top-notch, sound, classroom-tested science lessons, this is the book. Highly Recommended.

Reviewed by the Education Oasis staff.