Horrible Science is a spin-off series of books of Horrible Histories written by Nick Arnold (with the exception of Evolve or Die, which is written by Phil Gates), illustrated by Tony de Saulles and published in the UK and India by Scholastic. They are designed to get children interested in science by concentrating on the trivial, unusual, gory, or unpleasant. Amazon.com reviews of books in the series sometimes attribute their children's interested in science to the series. The books are in circulation in 24 countries, and over 4 million books have been sold in the UK alone.
Nick Arnold released a paper entitled "Teaching Science the Horrible Way" in which he demonstrates the reasons why the Horrible Science series has a positive contribution to learning. According to Arnold, Horrible Science books are based on everyday topics and key areas of the curriculum. The range of approaches used in Horrible Science books are intended to emphasise the drama and excitement and wonder of science. Science words and concepts are introduced gradually often using humour or fact files. Although mathematics is not needed at the level of science covered in the books, some activities require calculators. The books contain experiments under the heading Dare you discover… The experiments do not require expensive or elaborate equipment. Several of the books end with thoughts on how science will shape our future. On his website, Nick Arnold also has downloadable experiments for teachers to use in the classroom as an aid to his books (e.g. the Horrible Hydrogen experiment at ).
Read more about Horrible Science: Magazines, Descriptions of The Books, Flip Charts, Book Makeover, Awards, Reviews, Criticism
Famous quotes containing the words horrible and/or science:
“That was the most horrible day of my detention. The whole day I could see my baby’s face and wanted to call her name, “Dudu,” “Dudu,” but my mind was blank. I couldn’t recollect it. “Can a mother forget her baby’s name?” I wondered.”
—Emma Mashinini (b. 1929)
“The science of Humboldt is one thing, poetry is another thing. The poet to-day, notwithstanding all the discoveries of science, and the accumulated learning of mankind, enjoys no advantage over Homer.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)