Phineas L. MacGuire . . . Erupts!: The First Experiment (From the Highly Scientific Notebooks of Phineas L. MacGuire)

This book makes Science Fair projects cool for everyone! Main character, Phineas, even explains the two different types of projects, which many of my students have a difficult time understanding. He models how to be inquisitive about your enviroment and even includes directions for two experiments in the post pages of the book. Good lessons/themes in asking questions, giving people a second chance, and making the best of your situation.

Phineas Listerman MacGuire, known as "Mac," considers himself quite a scientist, but his plans to win the fourth-grade science fair may be ruined when Mrs. Tuttle assigns new kid "Mac R." as his partner. Though the boys share the same name, they aren't alike; obnoxious Mac R. has already alienated the whole class. But to his surprise, Mac discovers that the new boy (whose real name is Ben) is really a gifted artist and decent guy, and he finds a way to help the kid start fresh. Using repetitive phrasing and lots of lists (from project ideas to facts Mac learns about science and Ben), Dowell brings to life a likable, nerdy kid who thrives on scientific thinking. A departure from Dowell's Dovey Coe (2001), this book targets a younger show more audience; the type is large and well spaced, and black-and-white art playfully captures the characters, including the quirky Mrs. Tuttle, who apparently loves frogs. Budding scientists will find instructions for their own experiments at the end of the book. Category: Books for Middle Readers--Fiction. 2006, Simon & Schuster/Atheneum, $15.95. Gr. 3-5. show less

Mac is about to start the fourth grade, but his best friend moved away right before the first day of school. Mac is a scientist, and so was his best friend. Now he finds himself without a best friend and a science partner. Mac is a self proclaimed scientist and is allergic to the color purple. He looks at everything in his world through the perspective of a scientist. A new student comes into Mac's class during the first week of school, and his name is Mac R. Mac does not like this Mac R. Of course, the two get paired together to complete a science fair project. Mac and Mac R. have to learn to work together so they can complete their science project.
This is a great text for grades 3-6. The scientific language adds some complexity to show more the text, but it is still accessible for this age group. I would use this text as a mentor text for learning about scientific language and the scientific process. It could be read either before learning about scientific language or during the unit in science. I think this text could be particularly helpful in learning about scientific observations and theories. I would use this to help children begin learning about the how the scientific process fits into daily life. Children would write down things that they observed occurring in their daily lives that they think would involve science. Then the children would write down their theories about why they think they saw that in their observation. show less

This chapter book is about a fourth grade boy named Phineas MacGuire who is was forced to team up with a boy in his science class to compete in a science fair project. Once paired up with his new partner he was not sure how the science project would end up because of his partners quirky personality. This book is a good book for middle grade students to read. It is a fun read, with an ending l do not want to spoil.

Pretty good book about a boy who is trying to win a science fair. Not the best book. Id reccomend it anyway though.

Fourth-grade science whiz Phineas MacGuire is forced to team up with the new boy in class on a science fair project, but the boy's quirky personality causes Phineas to wonder if they have any chance of winning

I wish I had these books back when I was an elementary teacher. They are great!