Indoor Garden Musings: Ben Roy’s Go Science Science Videos from Library and Educational Services (Schoolhouse Crew Review)

We received this for review purposes!

Product Links: NEW (Series 2) Go Science DVDs

Vendor Information Link: Library and Educational Services

Age Appeal: 4-12

Format: DVD

Price: each DVD costs $8.97 (List price is $14.95)

Do your children enjoy watching videos? Do you have trouble finding good quality programs for them to watch? Go Science: Science for Kids with Ben Roy might be just what you are looking for. These DVDs last around an hour and are filled with different experiments done by Roy and his three helpers. (The three helpers are different for each experiment.)

Roy teaches methods of science at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He has made science lessons for a Christian satellite broadcasting network, the Weather Channel, and About.com.

There are currently seven volumes in series two:

Volume One: Sound, Gravity, Space
Volume Two: Life Science, Weather
Volume Three: Air 1, Air 2
Volume Four: Motion, Friction, Electricity, Light
Volume Five: States of Matter, Water
Volume Six: Chemistry 1, Chemistry 2
Volume Seven: Engineering, Design, Flight

Our Experience:

B and C were super excited when we were chosen for the Go Science DVD review. They really enjoy science and were excited to be able to watch experiments that they would probably not be able to do at home. B chose Volume Six: Chemistry 1, Chemistry 2. C chose Volume Two: Life Science, Weather.

When the DVDs arrived in the mail they were eager to watch them. They agreed to watch the one about chemistry first. They had a fun time watching it, because there were some experiments we had done in the past year. Some of the chemistry experiments were exciting, because they caused explosions. C wanted to watch Volume Two: Life Science, Weather by herself. I think she enjoyed it, because she was glued to the screen when B and I watched it.

I am looking forward to the next rainy day when we can have their cousins over and they can have fun watching these experiments.

Mama’s Thoughts:

These DVDs are perfect for children who learn by watching. It would be nice to have a greater description about the science behind each experiment. I would have enjoyed learning more. I think B would have as well.

In some of these DVDs there were experiments that would be perfect to do at home. It would have been nice to have some of the measurements of the ingredients. There was an experiment which included water, glue, and borax. It makes a substance like silly putty. I know all children would enjoy making and playing with it.

Ben Roy was the perfect host. He was upbeat, friendly, and involved the audience. In each episode he would interview three children about various topics, then he would invite them to come up and help him. I thought those interviews were fun, because we learned more about the children. I thought the wide variety of ages of children was nice too, because it showed B and C that all ages could watch the experiments.

I enjoyed Roy’s ending phrase, “Every time we learn more about science we learn more about our Creator God!” It was great to see someone who emphasized that we can see God in science experiments. I am used to seeing scientists really separate God and science, so the Go Science DVDs were very refreshing. I liked his references to God in the different experiments. He said God insulates us and Jesus’s love is a secret agent.

I especially liked the episode, “Eating Metal for Breakfast,” because I did not know that there were bits of iron in cereal. Roy liquefied the cereal and used a powerful magnet to pull out the iron. I also thought the episode about the fire tornado was interesting since we have seen real ones on television and we have experience with forest fires.

B’s Thoughts (boy, age 10, officially in fourth grade):

My favorite experiment was on Volume Two: Life Science, Weather. I thought it was the most interesting experiment. I liked it because even when you are cut out a square in a garbage can it still came out in a circle. I liked the videos a lot. I think these DVDs would be best for ages eight and up. I even think grownups would enjoy these DVDs.

C’s Thoughts (girl, age 8, officially in second grade):

I liked both DVDs. I liked the experiment that involved bobby pins and testing it on a person’s arm. That person had to have their eyes closed. A person put the bobby pin on another person’s arm to see if they could tell if one point or two was touching their arm.

I think it would be good for people of all ages.