Engines!: With 25 Science Projects for Kids

by Donna McKinney, Tom Casteel (Illustrator)

Overview

A full-color introduction to the engines that power our world, packed with STEM activities and text-to-world connections that invite kids ages 7 to 10 to discovery 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 Kids invites readers ages 7 to 10 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.

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!

About the Explore Your World series and Nomad Press

Nomad Press books in the Explore Your World series integrate content with participation, encouraging readers to engage in student-directed learning. Combining content with inquiry-based projects stimulates learning and makes it active and alive. Nomad’s unique approach simultaneously grounds kids in factual knowledge while allowing them the space to be curious, creative, and critical thinkers.

All books are leveled for Guided Reading level and Lexile and align with Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards.

All titles are available in paperback, hardcover, and ebook formats.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781619309388
Publisher:	Nomad Press
Publication date:	10/15/2021
Series:	Explore Your World
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	96
Lexile:	900L (what's this?)
File size:	35 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	7 - 10 Years

About the Author

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 It’s 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.

Table of Contents

Timeline
Introduction: Let’s Explore Engines
Build a Catapult
Build a Trebuchet
Build a Battering Ram
Build a Simple Cotton Gin
Build a Paper Airplane Catapult
Chapter One: Hot Burning Fuel: Heat Engines
Build a Rubber Band Heat Engine
Demonstrate Magnetism
Build a Mini Steam Boat
Build a Car Powered by Magnets
Chapter Two: A Magnetic Attraction: Electric Motors
Demonstrate Conductors vs. Insulators
Build a Simple Circuit
Build a Homopolar Motor
Build a Simple Electric Motor
Chapter Three: Powered by Air: Pneumatic Motors
Demonstrate Pressurized Air with a Balloon
Demonstrate Pressurized Air by Lifting Books
Blow Your Lid
Perform the Water Glass Trick
Make a Balloon Blow a Whistle
Demonstrate Air Pressure with a Potato
Chapter Four: Fluids Under Pressure: Hydraulic Motors
Build a Milk-Carton Conveyor Belt
Build a Hand-Crank Winch
Demonstrate Water Power
Make a Tornado in a Bottle
Chapter Five: Tick-Tock-Tick-Tock: Clockwork Motors
Demonstrate How Gears Work
Build a Gear Train
Wind-up Toy Races
Bouncing Ball Energy Transfer

Glossary
Resources
Index

Editorial Reviews

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.”

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.”

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.

From the Publisher

08/01/2020

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, but the activities could benefit from continuity in the supply list (sometimes only a science notebook is listed, other times it is a science notebook and a pencil; matches are not always listed for candles) and clarity on when adult assistance is required. The final activity feels disconnected in its discussion of atoms and molecules. 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.—Meaghan Darling, Sparta P.L., NJ

School Library Journal