This colorful, well illustrated book is packed with fun projects for kids to make STEM crafts for outside. The instructions are well designed with lots of photos of the steps, and each project has an indicator of difficulty level. This would make a great book for kids who like the Tinker type of science kits but can't afford the steep monthly price tag, with just a little help from a grown up to help assemble the few materials that can't be found around the house.

I ended up buying this book and using some of the activities at a free Summer Camp I ran for underprivileged. kids. The activities use materials that are easy to acquire and the illustrated step-by-step instructions were invaluable to the success of the program. Thank you!

Maker Lab: Outdoors; 25 Super Cool Projects by Jack Challoner actually includes twenty-eight science projects and experiments to be done outside. The projects focus on Earth and the environment, plants and animals, rocks and minerals, and space, bringing science learning home and into the backyard. Young scientists can make a cave system and find out about underground rivers, construct a working model of tectonic plates and learn about earthquakes, build a telescope and look to the planets and stars, and more. The book includes clear step-by-step instructions, and detailed explanations.

Maker Lab: Outdoors; 25 Super Cool Projects is a well written and organized collection of experiments and activities. The instructions are easy to understand and paired with helpful photographs and labels that can assist young scientists in achieving success. I liked that the projects are divided into four groups, Nature Watch, World of Weather, Water Power, and Earth and Sky. This can help young readers focus on a subject matter that interests them most, or to supplement what they are learning at home or in school. Some of the projects are classics, or at least ones I have seen more than once before. However, a couple seemed new to me. I loved that the templates were all included in one location at the end of the book, along with a glossary and index to make things even more clear and accessible. I am looking forward to trying out some of these projects with my own kids this summer, or letting them loose to try more independently in my yard.

I love the Smithsonian Maker Lab series and Maker Lab: Outdoors from DK doesn’t disappoint. It is full of 25 great activities to get kids outdoors and make learning fun. The excellent step-by-step directions with tons of pictures makes completing the projects a snap. I liked how the projects were divided into sections (nature watch, world of weather, water power, and earth and sky) and how the projects were varied according to time required and difficulty. It makes picking the perfect project easy. I also liked that ways to extend learning were also included in the form of Take It Further, How It Works, and Real-World Application sections. This STEM-style of learning is sure to excite the kids in your life with the joy of learning while having fun.

I received an advance reading copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

“Maker Lab Outdoors” has GREAT ideas for library programming. It’s also the perfect combination to promote STEM skills and get kids outside.

This is a perfect book for summer. Even if you child did only one activity a day, they will be better educated , and have had a lot of fun by the time the new school year roles around. I like how the book was divided into subjects like water, ground, weather, etc. The illustrations and real pictures are plentiful, the instructions easy to understand. And at the end of each activity the cause and effect are explained in How it Works, and they also give a Real World Science example of the concept. Well done.

This book contained many projects I had seen before. That being said, there were many new projects and some of the projects presented here were done in a more interesting fashion than other books. For example, the meteorology section expanded upon barometer projects I've seen in other books but also added in several new projects.

Maker Lab: Outdoors, by Jack Challoner features 25 Super Cool Projects for kids to focus on building, inventing, creating, and discovering outdoor scientific projects.

This book spans over 150 pages with interesting step-by-step science projects and experiments for kids to complete outside. According to the Contents page, this book is divided into four main chapters, which are titled as Nature Watch, World of Weather, Water Power, and Earth and Sky.

Each main chapter is divided into other sections with the titles of Periscope, Butterfly feeder, Warmery, Erosion bottles, Soil-free planter, Seedling pots, Myselium, Brilliant barometer, Rain gauge, Thermometer, Anemometer, Cracking rocks, Giant bubbles, Spinning whirlpool, Wonderful water, Ice cream, Marbled pebbles, Twirling helicopter, Diamond kite, Water rocket, Air cannon, Cool compass, Gorgeous geodes, Latitude locator, and Paper sundial. Also, there are additional sections, including Foreword, Templates, Glossary, and Index.

Maker Lab: Outdoors is a scientific and creative book that's geared toward elementary and middle school students.


Note: I received this book from NetGalley, which is a program designed for bloggers to write book reviews in exchange for books, yet the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

What a great book filled with fun maker space experiments and projects. I want to start an after school group just to try all of them! Would be a great way to pull science curriculum in with literature. Love out!

LOVE this book!! We really enjoyed the activities and ideas we found in this book. We will try each one and will learn as well and enjoy. The steps are easy giving us time to have fun and not worry about how to do any of the projects. We recommend it!!

This book is excellent! I cannot wait to purchase for my library.

This book came just in time for summer. It's full of fun projects and experiments that are perfect for the outdoors. The instructions are clear, the materials are easy to find and each project is followed by a "How It Works" explanation and a real world application. Some are quick and have immediate results. Others take time, like making ice cream or creating a compost bin, but it's worth the wait. Some are easy, like the Watertight Wonder. And some are harder and take more time to put together, like the air cannon. Again, totally worth the effort. The book is appropriate and applicable to middle grade. This would be a great addition to a classroom a makerspace.

Terrific!

A great collection of fun projects to help kids learn and grow. Instructions are thorough and easy to follow. This is our second Maker Lab book and I look froward to doing them all with my daughter.

I voluntarily read an advanced copy.

Having enjoyed "Maker Lab: 28 Super Cool Projects," I was excited to check out this book. There are projects ranging from easy to difficult, some that can be done pretty quickly (less than 30 minutes) and some that take more time. The projects are broken down into 4 topics: Nature Watch, World of Weather, Water Power, and Earth and Sky. There are some I definitely don't want to try (I will NOT be showing my kids the wormery project! Ew! Worms!), but there are others that are ones I'd love to try out. The supplies needed are pretty standard and straightforward. I really like the variety in skill level and topics, and I love the fact that this is a full-color book with step-by-step pictures AND instructions for how to complete the projects, which makes it easy to read and follow as well as very engaging.

I viewed a copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I saw this book last weekend at the BN but I wasn't too sure if I wanted to buy it home. Tempted, but was having second thought. I am glad DK granted me a ARC copy to review because I will definitely buy my son a copy soon. I am sure we're going to have some so much fun making few projects together.

The science projects range from easy to advance levels. Some I could see my 4yo will be able to have fun with whereas few would suit him better when he is older. The brief text and illustrations provide explanation to the science behind each experiment. No difficult and messy activities which I like. The materials used for the projects are easy to obtain and most should be readily available at home.

This book actually reminds me how much fun I used to have making simple science projects both at home and at school when I was a kid. "Maker Lab: Outdoors" is a great buy if parents are looking for easy, fun, and economical activities to spend quality time with their kids.

Wonderful experiments for kids and parents! Lots to learn throughout experimentation, set up, tear down, looking at how things work, lots of information and learning completely hidden in fun activities!