The Space Science Handbook: 32 Celestial Science Projects for Kids

by Cara Florance

Overview

Embark on an intergalactic adventure where you'll study bright galaxies, envision new planets, and explore futuristic technology in this imaginative science activity book for kids!

The Space Science Handbook takes children on a tour of the cosmos through scientific experiments, creative projects, and demonstrations. In addition to exploring aspects of the solar system, extraterrestrial life, and space technology, this book teaches vital scientific concepts and helps children consider sociological and philosophical implications of a future in the stars. Each experiment includes a mission brief, simple instructions and diagrams, and an explanation of the science at work!

Experiments include:

• Atmospheric Pressure: Crush a can using the Earth's atmosphere
• Turbulent Flow: Study turbulent flow using milk, food coloring, and dish soap
• Space Sludge: Make magnetic slime
• Emergency Battery: Create a battery from potatoes
• Wearable Electronics: Create a signaling patch
• and more!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781464225604
Publisher:	Sourcebooks
Publication date:	09/02/2025
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	6.80(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.10(d)
Age Range:	7 - 10 Years

About the Author

Cara Florance is a biochemist specializing in catalytic RNA. She has a BS in chemistry from Iona College and PhD in biochemistry from University of Colorado, Boulder. She lives in Boston with her husband and two children. Her little girls inspired her to create Brave the Elements, an online resource for parents to bring science into the home.

Editorial Reviews

"STEM fun for young experimenters." — Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2025-07-19
A space explorer from the 32nd century reaches out to contemporary young people, assigning them a broad range of space-themed projects and demonstrations.

Florance prefaces each “mission” with extracts from a futuristic Captain’s Log that fills in background on exoplanets, the search for alien life, and other thematically related adventures. The missions begin with a descriptive brief, followed by supplies (most are inexpensive or commonly found household objects) and step-by-step procedures. The projects range from a terrarium and a potato battery to a 10-page construction paper art project that shows your “intergalactic address.” Each project’s closing debrief invites readers to cogitate on the results, and QR codes at the end of the book lead to further online activities and resources. Occasional photos of a blond, light-skinned child with pointed elf ears add cute science-fictional interest. Although the projects overall are generally feasible for less expert hands, too many of the images offer partial views of finished projects or have a discouragingly professional sheen rather than looking homemade. Still, along with being designed to offer plenty of opportunities for ad hoc experimentation, the projects touch on a great range of fields from astronomy to chemistry, biology, and even Einsteinian physics.

STEM fun for young experimenters. (photo credits, glossary, bibliography)(Nonfiction. 8-11)

Kirkus Reviews