Rosie Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 (edited) We're doing RS4K Chemistry (Pre 1) and my girls want to know more about how all of this stuff about atoms and molecules and reactions, etc. was discovered. Does anyone have any good biography suggestions for me? It doesn't matter if the reading level is high. They are good readers, but if it's too high I can just read it to them. It needs to be interesting for their age ranges, though. They are 6 and 8. Thank you! Edited April 18, 2012 by Rosie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie Posted April 18, 2012 Author Share Posted April 18, 2012 Anyone? Is there something out there like Mathematicians Are People, Too.... but about Scientists? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jar7709 Posted April 19, 2012 Share Posted April 19, 2012 (edited) Off the top of my head, I can't think of a book like you describe specific to chemists. I know that Bryson's A Really Short History of Nearly Everything and Usborne Story of Science touch a little on the lives of some famous chemists, but you might have better luck searching for books on individual scientists that catch your interest, maybe starting with Eyewitness Great Scientists or something like that? Marie Curie is fascinating and there are several books about her if you do a search on Amazon. My kids liked The Day-Glo Brothers, but they didn't "discover" anything, but for applied chemistry their story is A+. If you're willing to work a little, The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean is written for adults, but I thought it was intersting and engaging. You might want to pre-read the Amazon sample and see if you could make it work, if the kids have interest and you're willing to read it aloud. I find it goes very nicely with The Elements. ETA: It looks like there's a children's biography series called "Uncharted-unexplored-unexplained" that has several biographies of chemists. I haven't read any of them so can't vouch for their quality and I don't see many reviews, but some look cheap used. Might be worth a shot. :) Edited April 19, 2012 by jar7709 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalmia Posted April 19, 2012 Share Posted April 19, 2012 This book is great for elementary and middle school. Discusses the earliest recorded discoveries in chemistry in a narrative format. The Mystery of the Periodic Table http://www.amazon.com/Mystery-Periodic-Living-History-Library/dp/188393771X/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1334795653&sr=8-11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serendipitous journey Posted April 19, 2012 Share Posted April 19, 2012 Try for biographies of Marie Curie? The structure of atoms & molecules also overlaps with physics ... there's not a lot for young elementary, it looks like, but check this out. Might you look at the Noeo program bookilsts? and Ellen McHenry's Elements program gets good reviews often; you could search here for threads on it and see if it would be a good resource; the digital download is about $15, I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alte Veste Academy Posted April 19, 2012 Share Posted April 19, 2012 (edited) Try Inventing the Future. It is a chronological narrative that tells the history of science, linking one discovery to the next. It includes lots of mini-bios as part of the narrative. It is very engaging, with quite a bit of humor. My kids have loved it! Edited April 19, 2012 by Alte Veste Academy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laughing lioness Posted April 19, 2012 Share Posted April 19, 2012 Chemistry 101 by Wes Olsen as well as The World of Chemistry by Tiner. Can't get links to load for some reason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted April 19, 2012 Share Posted April 19, 2012 We really enjoyed Exploring the World of Chemistry by John Hudson Tiner. It does have a Christian POV and a few subtle ID references, but nothing that I as a OE, theistic evolution-leaning Christian had a problem with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sagira Posted April 19, 2012 Share Posted April 19, 2012 We really enjoyed Exploring the World of Chemistry by John Hudson Tiner. It does have a Christian POV and a few subtle ID references, but nothing that I as a OE, theistic evolution-leaning Christian had a problem with. I was just going to say that this is the book we're using next year to enrich our Chemistry lessons through BFSU 3-5. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewelma Posted April 19, 2012 Share Posted April 19, 2012 This book is great for elementary and middle school. Discusses the earliest recorded discoveries in chemistry in a narrative format. The Mystery of the Periodic Table http://www.amazon.com/Mystery-Periodic-Living-History-Library/dp/188393771X/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1334795653&sr=8-11 :iagree:This is exactly what you want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hope in God Posted April 19, 2012 Share Posted April 19, 2012 We really enjoyed Exploring the World of Chemistry by John Hudson Tiner. It does have a Christian POV and a few subtle ID references, but nothing that I as a OE, theistic evolution-leaning Christian had a problem with. We loved this one too. I considered it one of my year's best a couple years ago when we used it. I ended up buying the whole series by John Hudson Tiner because he is just so engaging. My 6 year old would go around telling people why the Antarctic expedition failed and other interesting chemistry stories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sagira Posted April 19, 2012 Share Posted April 19, 2012 :iagree:This is exactly what you want. On the book it says for middle school and up. I'm saving Mystery of Periodic Table for 7th grade or so for ds to read himself. It looks great! I'm reading the Tiner book aloud to ds next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie Posted April 19, 2012 Author Share Posted April 19, 2012 Wow! Thank you, everyone! Lots of great ideas here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted April 19, 2012 Share Posted April 19, 2012 If you come across it, All About the Wonders of Chemistry by Ira M Freeman is kind of fun, but not only about inventors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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