Alchemy and Dragons is an independent reading and fantasy fiction activity book for kids ages 7-11. The reading level is 2nd grade and up.
My 7-year-old son loves magic wands, magic spells, and stories about hidden treasures and fantastical beasts. But he is not much of a reader. I wrote this book for him, and any kid who likes playing a hero more than reading about heroes.
Are there dragons haunting your garden, or lurking in a scary tree nearby? The dragon lore, and the potions we make to protect our home from the fire-breathing beasts help kids engage in imagination play, and become the main character of their own magic fantasy story.
The book alternates activity - making alchemical potions and casting spells - with reading pages, where we talk about dragons, as well as the history of alchemy and science.
In Alchemy and Dragons I assume that the reader owns a magic wand. You can find instructions on making your own magic wand in my book Invincible Magic Book of Spells.
The magic spells and potions in this book are fantasy fiction material: They are not based on any witchcraft, New Age, or esoteric religion lore or rituals.
The Alchemy aspect of the book is based on the practical methods of medieval alchemists. The only philosophical principle of alchemy mentioned in the book is All From One, the divine origin of the world. "All things come from one source, by the will and by the word of the Only One who created it in His Mind..." from the Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismegistus.
The potion recipes use only safe everyday objects and substances you have at home or outside (sand, rocks, rainwater, salt, leaves...) We'll distill rainwater with solar distillation (using sunlight to warm up and evaporate water).
We will also learn some facts from the History of Alchemy, and answer these questions:
- What is the origin of the words Chemistry, Alchemy, Laboratory, Elixir, Gibberish, and Spectrum? (hint: Alchemy!)
- What is the Philosopher's Stone?
- What kind of monster is a Basilisk, and why did people carry a mirror in their pocket in the Middle Ages?
- What are stalactites and stalagmites?
- What is Gothic architecture and what is the origin of gargoyles?
- What are meteor showers and how did ancient people use meteorite rocks?
- How did Newton discover the light spectrum?
- How to make a rainbow with a glass of water and a sheet of paper?
- What is the Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismegistus and what are the 12 Keys of Basilius Valentinus?
- What is sand and from where do white and black sands come?
- Who was St. George, and what is the legend about St.George and a dragon?
- What physical phenomena did alchemists call a dragon and dragon's blood?
- Why did Vikings have dragon heads on the bows of their ships?
- What is Yggdrasil in Viking mythology?
... and more!
