The Kids' Book of Simple Machines

December 1, 2015
Grades 3-6 Simple machines are all around, and this encourages young readers to spot them and, even more, to systematically record and explore the complexities of how they work. Experiments for six simple machines, organized by type (levers, wheels and axles, pulleys, etc.), provide empirical examples of how each functions. The activities, laid out with step-by-step directions, use everyday household items and include helpful, detailed photographs of the trickiest steps. After an explanation of each type of machine comes lists of commonplace examples, encouraging kids to be on the watch for the machine's practical applications. A Spotlight feature in the margins of each chapter chronicles the history of famous machines (scissors, elevators, propellers) and their creators (Galileo, George Ferris Jr.), elaborating on the foundational principles of physics. An excellent introduction to basic physics and machines as well as to the scientific method and what it means to think in a systematic and empirical way.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)