Difficulty: Challenger (Level 2)
Did you know hair can be used to clean up oil? American hairdresser Phil McCrory came up with this idea after seeing how oil spills harm the ocean. McCrory did an experiment to see how well human hair absorbed oil and learned it could soak up oil spills.
This is one of many stories of innovation in Crazy Ideas That Work by Hong Kong-based writer Rozana Lee. The book, published last year, is a collection of extraordinary experiments.
“Sometimes you think people are just born with creativity. But creativity can actually be trained,” the 39-year-old writer said. “And that’s why I put out this book – to try to train children’s creativity.”
The book goes around the world to help children learn about different scientific successes, starting in Hong Kong and travelling to Sierra Leone, the United States and Peru. Its yellow cover opens to pages that mix photographs, digital drawings and hand-drawn illustrations. They invite readers to add their own creations.
“I like to ask [kids] a lot of questions. When you make something fun, they’re more likely to engage and remember,” Lee said.
Hands-on learning and family bring the book to life
The book has experiments for children to do at home to help them understand the science behind each story.
The Hong Kong story focuses on two innovators, Shervin Sharghy and Sophie Chapman. The pair are transforming the city’s plastic waste into sustainable concrete bricks, called EcoBricks. Using plastic to create bricks for building diverts thousands of kilograms of waste from landfills, lowering the carbon footprint of construction.
Lee hopes this story and others will teach students to test ideas and figure out the “cause and effect” relationship through hands-on activities.
Lee also wanted the book to encourage parents to connect with their kids. She even got her own kids involved in creating the book – readers can see their hands in its photos.
“I got them to be like little experiment assistants,” Lee said. “I thought it would be an experience of what it’s like to work and … understand what I do.”
Lee’s message to young readers
Before becoming an author, Lee spent 10 years in the corporate world. However, she did not want to have one job for her whole life.
“Life is an adventure. You’re out here to explore and experiment,” she said. She said she could imagine herself being a creator.
Whenever she entered a bookstore or a library, Lee said she would feel overwhelmed by the choices. That is why she tried to create a book that would be different from what’s already on the market.
Lee said she hoped readers learn that you do not fail – you either win or you learn. “If you really believe in yourself and you put in the time and effort, you will get there,” she added.
