Maker lab outdoors 25 super cool projects : build, invent, create, discover

Twenty-five maker projects, divided into nature, weather, water, or earth and sky categories, and intended to be implemented in outdoor settings, are laid out in step-by-step multipage spreads. Crisp photos help clarify procedures, and brief introductions, materials, work-time estimates (seemingly optimistic in some cases), indicated levels of difficulty (only three projects fall into the easy range), suggestions for taking experiments to higher levels, brief explanations of the natural processes producing results, and Real-World Science connections round out each entry. Activities include science-fair standards (a butterfly feeder or rain gauge) and more unusual ideas (eggshell geodes) and do deliver on the promised super cool stuff (giant bubbles, a water cannon, ice cream, and an air cannon). Many of the projects require some adult supervision or assistance with individual steps, but on the whole, kids should be able to work independently. Whether intended for backyards, parks, school courtyards, or outdoor STEM camps, this should be a hit.--McBroom, Kathleen Copyright 2018 Booklist