Cooking & Science Review & GIVEAWAY!

I never really liked science when I was in school, I always thought it was a bit boring.  I think part of the reason it was so boring is because we were always confined to our seats, we weren't allowed to do any experiments and we definitely weren't able to get a little messy and have fun.  Now that I am homeschooling and have the liberty to choose what to teach my children, I try to remember what I might have enjoyed if given the opportunity.  Experiments, making messes, nature and creation - these are the things that kids really enjoy doing and learning.

When I found out that we were going to be able to review Cooking & Science for Elementary Students from Castle Heights Press, we were very excited.  What kid doesn't like to get in the kitchen?  What kid doesn't like to do experiments?  I know mine do! 

We did several of the experiments, but our favorite one (so far) was the Homeschoolers' Cupcakes! 

First, I copied the pages from the book so that we could do this experiment again and put it in the kids notebooks.

We gathered our supplies.

We mixed up all of our ingredients.  As you know kids love doing this!  

The girls and I did this experiment while the boys were napping. 

The girls enjoyed taking turns adding the ingredients.

Lil' Chef and Computer Girl filled up the cupcake tins.  While I took pictures of course : ) 

This is the point where the experiment part comes in. 

The Cooking & Science book had us draw a picture of the cupcake before we put it into the oven.   We were also asked to explain the look, texture and shape of the cupcake. 

I think the hardest part about these cupcakes was the waiting!! 

After 15 minutes of baking, we were told to examine another cupcake.  The kids poked it with a fork and then sliced it in half.  Using the same process as the uncooked cupcake, the kids were to draw a picture of this cupcake and describe it's shape, look and texture.  We examined a new cupcake every 5 minutes until all the cupcakes were done.  I believe we did 5 cupcakes altogether. 

Here the girls are recording their findings.

The girls not only learned what oxidation is but they got to eat a cupcake.  How cool is that!

Who would have thought that you could teach your children basic chemistry principles while having a blast in the kitchen!  Cooking & Science has 17 awesome experiments for you to enjoy using simple items right in the comforts of your own kitchen:

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  Lemonade: Condensation & Dissolving 
• Cherry Turnovers: Observation
• Chocolate Chip Cookies: Drawing
• Chocolate Chip Cookies: Fractions
• Homeschoolers’ Cupcakes
• Three-in-One Pudding: The Effect of Density
• Hot Chocolate: Studying Insulation
• Root Beer Floats: States of Matter 
• Kids’ Carrots: Observation
• Freezing Vegetables: Observing Changes Made By Freezing
• Brownies: Baking vs. Frying
• Pancakes: The Effect of Baking Powder
• Yeast in a Balloon: Observation and Drawing
• Speedy Rolls: Yeast Growth
• Trail Mix: Classification 
• Scripture Cake: Word Drill
• Popcorn Explosion

We still really want to do the Brownies, Scripture Cake and Popcorn Explosion

You can purchase your own Cooking & Science for Elementary Students two ways.  You have order the book for $12.95 or you can purchase the Ebook for $9.95.  Either way, it is a great price! 

Castle Heights Press has also offered to send a FREE copy of the Cooking & Science for Elementary Students to one of YOU! 

To enter to the giveaway for a copy of Cooking & Science for Elementary Students please leave a SEPARATE COMMENT for each way that you enter and YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS!  I will pick the winner on September 26, 2010.

Here are the ways that you can enter:

• You must be a Follower or Subscriber of LSG to Win! Please leave me a comment and let me know how you follow.
• If you have just become a new Follower or Subscriber please tell me how you heard about this giveaway.
• If you blog about this contest please come back and leave me a link to you post.
• Please visit the Castle Height Press website, let me know which other product they offer that you would be interested in.
• Facebook or Twitter about this giveaway and leave me a comment to let me know about it.
• Like Castle Heights Press on Facebook.

(PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU DO NOT LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS I WILL HAVE TO SELECT ANOTHER WINNER)


We received this product free of charge, from Castle Heights Press, for review purposes. The opinions stated in this review are our own and we were not paid in any way.