Mind Games

Fun experiments that help us understand and appreciate our senses.

I enjoyed the layout of the experiments and all the extras and clear explanations.

The science fair ideas are great and the encouragement to use their own creativity and ideas is amazing

This is a nice resource for middle grade homeschooling parents and for teachers that might want to pull a couple of these experiments to use in class. I can also see myself using a few of these in my senses unit in high school anatomy class.

A very good book for kids. Introducing them to science. It has detailed explanation of various experiment that a kid can do at home. Aot to learn. Well systemised format that is uniform throughout the book. A nice recommendation.

Mind Games is a nonfiction book full of experiments for kids about perception. This is a great option for kids who need a science experiment idea, reluctant readers who don't like fiction, or just kids who like learning for fun. The directions are easy to understand and most of the items needed are easy to procure. I like how each experiment features a section about how the it works and why it works in a way that is accessible to kids.

Mind Games: 10 Fun Optical Illusions and Perception Projects by Scientific American Editors is a children's nonfiction book. What concepts are behind the creation of cartoons and the ability to seemingly make a dot on a page disappear? Readers will learn the answers through the ten hands-on activities featured in this intriguing title. Each optical illusion is broken down using step-by-step instructions paired with helpful illustrations. Accessible text reveals the important scientific ideas behind each activity, such as the principles of human vision, perception, and light.

Mind Games is a well organized and accessible book that would be a good classroom, homeschooling, and public library addition. I thought the book is well formatted, with well written text that explains the concept and related experiment well. I thought the extended information to help formulate a science fair project or further experimentation was a nice touch. The tools and items needed for the experiments were all things most likely already in the home, which makes the experiments so much more doable, and repeatable as desired. I also liked that an explanation of the scientific method was included, for those that might think they know what it is but need a bit more detail to be able to apply or explain it themselves. I also liked that a glossary and resources for further research were included as well.

A strong science book, looking at quirks of our senses, and how we can test them in our own homes – and if needed in science fair demonstrations, etc. The premise of each topic – the blind spot, the moire interference (I still can't do accents) and so on – is introduced, and we're guided through the simple and then the broader research we can do to prove the facts of it. Afterwards comes the 'right' answers – what we should have seen with our stereoscopy or our thaumatrope – and while that can get to just repeat what we read earlier it all makes for a friendly and nicely quirky STEM volume. Processes seem easy to follow, nothing is left hanging unexplained or done in too much fuddy-duddy detail, and of the books that encourage science studies into the home, this seemed to me one of the quieter, more successful ones. It is a good job the wording is so well-crafted and clear – the visual learner would love to have seen many more illustrations here. Finally, though, that price tag...

This is a great book of games, tricks and illusions that can be done with the minimum of equipment and your body. Each part has background information and the science behind it explained in a thorough way, as well as clear and precise instructions for the activity. These would be perfect for a school child and a fantastic addition to a school or classroom library.
Thanks to the author and Netgalley for a temporary copy in exchange for an honest review.