Home Run! Science Projects with Baseball and Softball

September 1, 2009
Grades 4-7 Bonnet and Keen lead off the Score! Sports Science Projects series with a volume on using elements of baseball and softball as the inspiration for science projects. Chapters organize the ideas into these categories: environmental (effects of wind and rain on the ball), transfer of energy (ball meets bat), statistics, friction and pressure, variables in batting, and Creative Baseball and Softball. Each chapter offers a few experiments, complete with a central question, a list of materials, step-by-step instructions, and some discussion of the scientific principles underlying the activity. In addition to the colorful, digital drawings illustrating the projects, a few photos and period prints also brighten the pages. Back matter includes a glossary and lists of books and Web sites for further reading. Though the presentation doesnt seem lively enough to draw baseball and softball players looking for insights into their sports, it will appeal to those looking for fresh science-project ideas. Also recently published in the series are Slam Dunk! Science Projects with Basketball; Goal! Science Projects with Soccer; and Wheels! Science Projects with Bicycles, Skateboards, and Skates.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)