Books published by publisher Maker Media, Inc

For students, DIY hobbyists, and science buffs, who can no longer get real chemistry sets, this one-of-a-kind guide explains how to set up and use a home chemistry lab, with step-by-step instructions for conducting experiments in basic chemistry -- not just to make pretty colors and stinky smells, but to learn how to do real lab work:Purify alcohol by distillationProduce hydrogen and oxygen gas by electrolysisSmelt metallic copper from copper ore you make yourselfAnalyze the makeup of seawater, bone, and other common substancesSynthesize oil of wintergreen from aspirin and rayon fiber from paperPerform forensics tests for fingerprints, blood, drugs, and poisonsand much moreFrom the 1930s through the 1970s, chemistry sets were among the most popular Christmas gifts, selling in the millions. But two decades ago, real chemistry sets began to disappear as manufacturers and retailers became concerned about liability. ,em>The Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments steps up to the plate with lessons on how to equip your home chemistry lab, master laboratory skills, and work safely in your lab. The bulk of this book consists of 17 hands-on chapters that include multiple laboratory sessions on the following topics:Separating MixturesSolubility and SolutionsColligative Properties of SolutionsIntroduction to Chemical Reactions & StoichiometryReduction-Oxidation (Redox) ReactionsAcid-Base ChemistryChemical KineticsChemical Equilibrium and Le Chatelier's PrincipleGas ChemistryThermochemistry and CalorimetryElectrochemistryPhotochemistryColloids and SuspensionsQualitative AnalysisQuantitative AnalysisSynthesis of Useful CompoundsForensic ChemistryWith plenty of full-color illustrations and photos, Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments offers introductory level sessions suitable for a middle school or first-year high school chemistry laboratory course, and more advanced sessions suitable for students who intend to take the College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Chemistry exam. A student who completes all of the laboratories in this book will have done the equivalent of two full years of high school chemistry lab work or a first-year college general chemistry laboratory course.This hands-on introduction to real chemistry -- using real equipment, real chemicals, and real quantitative experiments -- is ideal for the many thousands of young people and adults who want to experience the magic of chemistry.

While basic circuits may be easy to understand, creating a circuit requires a different way of thinking. The purpose of this book is to show how it's done. Being creative, instead of just following instructions, is part of the Maker ethic. This should include designing circuits to do what you want. The hands-on projects in this book progress from simple to complex, breaking circuits into modules to make them easier to understand. It is suitable for adult learners, as well as for teens ages 12 and up. (Younger readers can work through it with adult assistance.) Unique pictorial diagrams included in the book show circuits as they actually appear on a breadboard (not just schematics). Teaches the fundamentals of electronic circuitsStarts with basics and builds to more sophisticated designsExplains how to read and draw circuit diagramsEncourages experimentation and hands-on buildingIncludes cartoons and full-color photographs and line drawingsOne of the relatively few entry-level books on circuit designShifts the focus away from explaining components and onto showing how to link them togetherMake: Design Your Own Circuits is a standalone book that doesn't require familiarity with Charles Platt's other popular Make: Electronics books.

#1 Bestseller in Teen & Young Adult Study Aids ─ Updated and redesigned Sean Covey classicSean Covey has helped countless teens make better decisions and improve their sense of self-worth.A Self-Guided Workbook for Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey is a short, quick, and user friendly companion to the bestselling The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens. This compact workbook provides the same engaging activities, interactives, and self-evaluations, but now it's graphically more engaging to help teens understand and apply the power of the Habits.

Experience the magic of biology in your own home lab. This hands-on introduction includes more than 30 educational (and fun) experiments that help you explore this fascinating field on your own. Perfect for middle- and high-school students and DIY enthusiasts, this full-color guide teaches you the basics of biology lab work and shows you how to set up a safe lab at home.The Illustrated Guide to Home Biology Experiments is also written with the needs of homeschoolers firmly in mind, as well as adults who are eager to explore the science of nature as a life-long hobby. To get the most from the experiments, we recommend using this guide in conjunction with a standard biology text, such as the freely downloadable CK-12 Biology (ck-12.org).Master the use of the microscope, including sectioning and stainingBuild and observe microcosms, soda-bottle worlds of pond lifeInvestigate the chemistry of life from simple acids, bases, and buffers to complex carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, enzymes, and DNAExtract, isolate, and observe DNAExplore photosynthesis, osmosis, nitrogen fixation, and other life processesInvestigate the cell cycle (mitosis and cytokinesis)Observe populations and ecosystems, and perform air and water pollution testsInvestigate genetics and inheritanceDo hands-on microbiology, from simple culturing to micro-evolution of bacteria by forced selectionGain hands-on lab experience to prepare for the AP Biology examThrough their company, The Home Scientist, LLC (thehomescientist.com/biology), the authors also offer inexpensive custom kits that provide specialized equipment and supplies you’ll need to complete the experiments. Add a microscope and some common household items and you’re good to go.

The Raspberry Pi is a credit card-sized computer that plugs into your TV and a keyboard. It is a capable little computer which can be used in electronics projects, and for many of the things that your desktop PC does, like spreadsheets, word processing, browsing the internet, and playing games. It also plays high-definition video. This book takes you step-by-step through many fun and educational possibilities. Take advantage of several preloaded programming languages. Use the Raspberry Pi with Arduino. Create Internet-connected projects. Play with multimedia. With Raspberry Pi, you can do all of this and more.

Have you ever wondered whether the forensic science you’ve seen on TV is anything like the real thing? There’s no better way to find out than to roll up your sleeves and do it yourself. This full-color book offers advice for setting up an inexpensive home lab, and includes more than 50 hands-on lab sessions that deal with forensic science experiments in biology, chemistry, and physics. You’ll learn the practical skills and fundamental knowledge needed to pursue forensics as a lifelong hobby—or even a career.The forensic science procedures in this book are not merely educational, they’re the real deal. Each chapter includes one or more lab sessions devoted to a particular topic. You’ll find a complete list of equipment and chemicals you need for each session.Analyze soil, hair, and fibersMatch glass and plastic specimensDevelop latent fingerprints and reveal blood tracesConduct drug and toxicology testsAnalyze gunshot and explosives residuesDetect forgeries and fakesAnalyze impressions, such as tool marks and footprintsMatch pollen and diatom samplesExtract, isolate, and visualize DNA samplesThrough their company, The Home Scientist, LLC (thehomescientist.com/forensics), the authors also offer inexpensive custom kits that provide specialized equipment and supplies you’ll need to complete the experiments. Add a microscope and some common household items and you’re good to go.

Make amazing robots and gadgets with two of today’s hottest DIY technologies. With this easy-to-follow guide, you’ll learn how to build devices with Lego Mindstorms NXT 2.0, the Arduino prototyping platform, and some add-on components to bridge the two. Mindstorms alone lets you create incredible gadgets. Bring in Arduino for some jaw-dropping functionality—and open a whole new world of possibilities.Build a drink dispenser, music synthesizer, wireless lamp, and moreEach fun and fascinating project includes step-by-step instructions and clear illustrations to guide you through the process. Learn how to set up an Arduino programming environment, download the sketches and libraries you need, and work with Arduino’s language for non-programmers. It’s a perfect book for students, teachers, hobbyists, makers, hackers, and kids of all ages.Build a Drawbot that roams around and traces its path with a marker penConstruct an analog Mindstorms clock with hands that display the correct timeCreate a machine that mixes a glass of chocolate milk at the touch of a buttonMake a Gripperbot rolling robotic arm that you control wirelessly with Arduinos mounted on your armsExplore electronic music by building a guitar-shaped Lego synthesizerBuild a Lego lamp with on/off and dimmer switches that you control with a smartphone applicationJump feet first into the world of electronics, from learning Ohm’s Law to working with basic componentsYou'll need the Bricktronics shield created for this book by Open Source Hardware kit maker Wayne and Layne, or you can build a breadboarded equivalent (see Chapter 10) for about $25 in parts.

"Regarding The Complete Guide To German Shepherds, I can only say: Awesome! We have had GSD’s for many years, and we were really impressed with the information and the format of the book. If I was asked what was missing in this book, I would answer 'nothing'. Well written, insightful and a fun read." Brian Nainby - GSD owner"I love this book simply because you can tell it is written by someone who also loves the German Shepherd breed" Sam Ireland - GSD ownerTaking the first step in deciding to get a dog can be a difficult one. Where do you start? Well, how about right here, and right now. The Complete Guide to German Shepherds is just that. The A to Z guide for the breed written in simple language. Why and when should you consider a German Shepherd? The Complete Guide to German Shepherds has those answers and many more.Not all dogs are created equal. When it comes to GSD’s (that’s the short way to say German Shepherd Dog) they are truly a breed apart. They are large dogs; agile, fast, aggressive and intimidating if you want them to be. They are smart, loyal, inquisitive, persistent, protective and willing to push the boundaries. They’re also willing to push your buttons if you let them. Sound like the dog for you? Sound like a challenge? You bet they are, but the payoff is a best friend who will never leave your side.The Complete Guide to German shepherd will answer all your basic questions including:Is a German Shepherd the right dog for me?I brought my German Shepherd home. What now?What are the best ways to train my GSD?What are some common mistakes should I avoid?The Complete Guide to German Shepherds gives you the basic lowdown on this fabled breed. Everything from the renowned history of Rin Tin Tin, to how to avoid having your fingers chewed off by a puppy who is all teeth, to enjoying your canine companion as he ages. This book is designed to help you get the best out of all stages of your dog’s life; while causing the least amount of stress. Chapters include basics and advanced topics such as: Shepherd Saga (History of the German Shepherd breed) Is the German Shepherd right for you? German Shepherd Stigma Bringing Your GSD Home Being a Proud Puppy Parent Housetraining Socializing with People and Animals German Shepherds and Other Pets Physical and Mental Exercise Training your GSD Basic Commands Advanced Training and Occupations Dealing with Unwanted Behaviors Traveling with German Shepherds Nutrition Grooming your German Shepherd Basic Health Care Advanced German Shepherd Health and Aging Dog Care Let’s be honest here. GSD’s aren’t for everyone. However, if you have your heart set on one of America’s most popular breeds, this book will give you a great grounding on the path ahead of you. German Shepherds can be a tremendous challenge to your ego. They don’t always want to do what you want them to. You have to give them a good reason. The Complete Guide to German Shepherds gives you a head start on your GSD. Believe me, you’ll need it.

This completely updated and redesigned personal workbook companion to the bestselling The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens provides engaging activities, interactives and self-evaluations to help teens understand and apply the power of the 7 Habits. Sean Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens has sold more than 2 million copies and helped countless teens make better decisions and improve their sense of self-worth. Pairing new interactives with modern explanatory graphics, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens workbook reaches today’s teen generation effectively.

“I’ve had dogs my entire life, but living with a Yorkshire Terrier is a whole different experience. This book has been indispensable in helping us navigate life with our wonderful Yorkie. I recommend this book to prospective Yorkie companions as well as to those who already have one. It’s a must-read.” Michael C. Voigts, Yorkie ownerYorkshire Terriers are among the top ten most popular breeds in America, and it’s easy to see why. They are loyal, lovable and playful and make perfect pets for first-time dog owners. This book provides you all you need to know about how to look after the breed, whether you are buying a Yorkshire Terrier as a pet, show dog or breeding dog. In The Complete Guide to Yorkshire Terriers you will learn all about the ideal nutrition for the breed, training strategies, traveling, breed-disposed diseases, grooming, dental care, preventative veterinary care, neutering, and senior care. All information is specific to Yorkshire Terriers and presented in easy-to-read but comprehensive detail, ensuring there is nothing left for you to wonder or worry about. Some topics include:Is a Yorkie the right dog for me?I brought my Yorkie home. What now?How can I best train my Yorkie?What are some common mistakes should I avoid?The book will give you vital information about purchasing and rescue options, as well as top tips for when you bring your Yorkshire Terrier home for the first time. It will guide you from the exciting time before you get your puppy, all the way through to when it’s time to say goodbye to your old and beloved friend. You’ll find out everything you'll need to know as a new owner, including: Choosing a Yorkshire Terrier Preparing your Household for your Yorkie Bringing Your Yorkie Home Yorkshire Terrier Breed History Traveling with your Yorkie Yorkshire Terrier Training Yorkie Nutrition Dental Care Grooming Your Yorkie Yorkshire Terrier Diseases Breeding Yorkshire Terriers Showing Yorkshire Terriers Living with a Senior Yorkie If you’ve never owned a Yorkie before, this book will guide you through every life stage. Bringing a new dog into your home can be a lot of work, but this book is full of tips and tricks for creating a great relationship between owner and dog. Before long, you’ll become confident in your ability to be the best owner to your new Yorkie, and this sweet dog will show you so much affection in return! The book is compiled by veterinarian Dr. Jo de Klerk and will provide you with all you need to know about the breed and more. Whether you are a first time Yorkshire Terrier owner, professional dog owner or first-time dog owner all together, there is something for everyone to help you bond and care for your new little friend.