Science:  Grades K - 12
The Teaching Tank System
Publisher: Longevity Lifestyles
For more information or to order: www.teachingtank.com/

I wish I had a Teaching Tank System when I was a child!  In just a short time, this resource has added so much to our homeschool! Longevity Lifestyles provided us with their complete set of materials, which included The Teaching Tank, Expanded Tank Kit, Poly- Crystals, and 3 Discovery Books with a total of 150 experiments.  They also provided us with their Jr. Teaching Tank with its own book of experiments.  While the Jr. Teaching Tank is useful on its own, I found the big tank to be more versatile and, with a much larger viewing area, more enjoyable for my students. 

The Teaching Tank is an incredible invention that allows students to "see" science happen before their eyes!  Let's face it, you can only see so much in a test tube or pickle jar -- the Teaching Tank has a large, 9" x 11" viewing area.  The tank is also viewable from two sides, making it great for several children making observations at the same time.  We found the tank easy to assemble and use.  Depending on the materials used in your experiments, the tank may have to be unassembled for thorough cleaning, which we found a little inconvenient.  However, any inconvenience is heavily outweighed by the delight in my children's eyes as they made scientific discoveries while using this system!

The experiments in the Discovery books cover a wide range of topics in Life, Earth and Physical Sciences suited to a variety of grade levels from K - 12th grades.  When you order the Teaching Tank, you'll also want to order at least one of the three available volumes, each with 50 experiments.  We were a bit disappointed that several of the experiments required supplies that we would need to order from a scientific supplier. However, most were items that we will use over and over and none of the items were expensive.   For example, in Discovery Book 1 there were 15 experiments that required at least one item that you would need to purchase at a scientific supplier.  The authors provide a supply list in the back of each volume noting which items you probably have at home and those that need to be purchased.  

Keep in mind that this is not a complete curriculum, but rather, a resource to enhance whatever program you are using!  There are experiments in magnetic fields, plant growth, chemistry, bouyancy, estimation, evaporation, density, weather, color, light, minerals, photosensitivity and MUCH more!  As a mom with little scientific knowledge, I appreciated the clear instructions and thinking/discussion questions that build critical thinking skills.  My favorite part of these books is the Teaching Notes, which clarify and explain the "why" behind the experiments! 

I really enjoyed having all three Discovery books on hand and, because there are many experiments that require the Expanded Tank Kit, I was glad to have it on hand as well.  My son was doing a history fair project about the Titanic and was delighted to find two experiements in Volume 3 that he could use as demonstrations to go along with his display.  He chose to answer the question, "Could the Titanic Have Been Saved by Counter-Flooding and Moving Ballast?"  This experiment required the Expanded Tank Kit and was a big hit at our history fair!  The Teaching Tank System truly is an incredible learning tool appealing to both visual and hands-on learners.  Although the initial investment is a bit high, the versatility of the Tank and Discovery Books make this a resource you will use over and over again!

Making the Grade:  A
Cost:  $39.95 (Teaching Tank), $19.95 (Expanded Tank Kit), $29.95 (each Discovery Book)
Value for Your Homeschool Dollar:  8
Review provided by Cindy Prechtel, Editor