Engines!: With 25 Science Projects for Kids

(Paperback)

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Age range 7 to 10

A full-color introduction to the engines that power our world, packed with STEM activities and text-to-world connections that invite kids to discover the wonderful world of engines and motors!

From ancient times to now, engines have powered the activities of people's lives.Engines! With Science Projects for Kidsinvites readers to explore engines through hands-on STEM projects that deepen their understanding of engines, what makes them hum, and all the special jobs they do for humans.

• Learn about heat engines that power everything from trains to cars to planes to nuclear power plants.
• Explore electric motors and the magnetism that makes them run.
• Discover pneumatic motors that power tools and torpedoes, working with air squeezed under pressure.
• Learn about hydraulic motors with fluids under pressure that power things like cranes, lawn trimmers, garbage disposals, and drilling rigs.
• Study clockwork motors powered by a spiral spring and gears that move watches, wind-up toys, and music boxes.
• Interact with engaging text that's reinforced with 25 hands-on, science-minded projects, including building a catapult, a milk-carton conveyor belt, and a magnet-powered car, while fascinating trivia, essential questions, links to online resources, text-to-world connections, and even jokes help support deeper learning!

Reviews

School Library Journal Gr 3-5-An anthropomorphic beaver and snail provide a brief history of engines and 25 hands-on activities that demonstrate the concepts presented. A time line at the beginning of the text spotlights key advancements in engine engineering. An introductory chapter quickly explains the use of catapults and siege engines, the earliest steam engines, and modern engines. Subsequent chapters focus on clockwork motors, heat, electric, pneumatic, and hydraulic engines. Sprinkled throughout each chapter are illustrations and photographs, definitions of key terms, QR codes to access video content, additional fact boxes, and jokes and riddles provided by the snail. Each chapter ends with several projects that, as the topics progress, become more challenging and will require adult assistance in addition to trips to the hardware store, pharmacy, and possibly the grocery store. Concepts are presented succinctly with real-world applications, A glossary, metric conversions, additional books and websites, and an index can be found in the back -matter. -VERDICT An additional purchase where STEM materials are in high -demand.

Praise for Explore Simple Machines!

National Science Teachers Association
"This is not your usual activity book. Written for the student, with inquiry in mind, the explanations are simple and easy to follow, and there is an explanation of what is happening and questions to extend the learning. I would use [Explore Simple Machines] with young scientists in my class, and I would also put the materials in a center for young children to explore, make, and do . . . I honestly didn't think simple machines were fun or easy to understand. This book changed that for me and for my students."

Praise for Explore Electricity!

National Science Teachers Association Recommends
"Explore Electricity is written for an elementary age level, but middle school students would enjoy learning about historical background on electricity while completing the electricity projects. The contents of this book will captivate students with the electrifying topics. This book is a well-written resource for classroom teachers, students, and parents."

Author Bio

Donna B. McKinney is the author of more than 10 nonfiction books for kids on topics ranging from science and technology to history to sports. Some of those titles include STEM in Snowboarding; Careers for Tech Girls in Graphic Design; Getting to Know JavaScript; and Its Great to Be a Fan in North Carolina. Before she wrote for children, she spent many years writing about science and technology topics, including chemistry, space science, and robotics, at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC. She has a BA in English from Campbell University and an MA in Professional Writing and Editing from George Mason University. She lives in North Carolina. Tom Casteel is an illustrator and cartoonist that graduated from the Center for Cartoon Studies in 2011. He has illustrated more than two dozen books for Nomad Press. Tom lives in South Bend, Indiana with his wife, son, two smelly dogs and one old cat.