Tetrahedron Forcebuster

Tetrahedron Forcebuster

Civil engineers rely on triangles for many constructions. it is the strongest shape. The tetrahedron is a shape with four triangular faces (think of the pyramids of egypt). Test how well triangle power can resist pushing and pulling forces. Ask an adult to help you thread the sewing needle and supervise as you use it. Connect the straws tightly. They should be rigid, not loose. it is helpful if all straws meeting at one vertex have a different color. That's...
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Magnetic Field Viewer

Magnetic Field Viewer

From Electricity

You can see magnetic fields in action with this easy-to-make viewer.

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Build a Craft Stick Catapult

Build a Craft Stick Catapult

From Engines!

Ancient armies used catapults in battle. But the catapult has been used as recently as World War I. In that war, soldiers used catapults to toss hand grenades at the enemy. Today, catapults are used to launch planes off the decks of huge ships called aircraft carriers. Because the runway is short on an aircraft carrier, the catapult helps get the plane into the air quickly. Try making your own!

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The STEM in Your Closet

The STEM in Your Closet

From The Science of Fashion

Have you ever really thought about what kind of science, engineering, and technology actually go into making your clothes? Now is your chance! The zipper on your jacket was at one time an engineering miracle. The shirt that has built-in protection from the sun’s ultraviolet rays is a scientific innovation that helps to keep you healthy. There is a world of science and engineering in your closet. Just open the door.

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Build the Eiffel Tower

Build the Eiffel Tower

From The Science and Technology of Marie Curie

Built in 1889 for the World Exposition, the Eiffel Tower honored the French Revolution. It also showcased national engineering and design expertise to an audience of global visitors. Originally intended as a temporary monument, it remains one of the world’s most visited landmarks. The structure of the tower itself is actually quite simple! To understand how its rivets and beams join, build a model of your own.

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Reviews

Leslie Brunell, PhD, PE, Associate Teaching Professor, Stevens Institute of Technology
"Canals and Dams introduces the young reader to engineering in a unique, creative and thorough manner. This book describes the origins of water supply systems, the evolution of canals, and the complexity associated with dams in a way that can be easily understood, introducing fundamental concepts such as gravity, forces, and the flow of water. Engineering is all about innovation and creativity. Supplementing a STEM classroom with this text will certainly encourage children to further explore engineering."

Marla Conn, Educational Consultant
"This title is wonderful! Canals and Dams supports all of the Reading Informational Text ELA Common Core State Standards. The content is well organized and interesting. The illustrations are age appropriate, engaging, and support the text. The activities are fun, thought provoking, and reinforce the ideas and concepts taught. Right on!"

Detailed Book Description

Canals and Dams: Investigate Feats of Engineering invites children ages 9 and up to explore the innovation and physical science behind the amazing waterways and barriers our world depends on. Trivia and fun facts illustrate engineering ingenuity and achievements from ancient aqueducts to the Suez Canal and the Hoover Dam. Readers will discover that engineers and builders alike put their lives on the line to advance civilization, experiencing triumphs and tragedies in building big. Through dazzling success and heartbreaking failure, they developed increasingly sophisticated tools and building methods.

Activities and projects encourage children to explore the engineering process and to try, try again through trial and error. They'll engage in hands-on explorations of buoyancy, Newton's third law of motion, and forces that push and pull structures. They'll create a paper-cup zip line, build an arch, and simulate a tsunami, while experimenting with gravity, hydroponics, and velocity. In Canals and Dams: Investigate Feats of Engineering, children will gain an appreciation for the important field of engineering as they develop their own building skills.

Available In:
Hardcover, $21.95
9781619301696
Paperback, $16.95
9781619301658
Includes: Table of Contents | Timeline | Charts | Glossary | Resources | Index
Specs: 8 x 10 size | black and white interior | 128 pages
Subject: Science
Content Focus: Engineering & Technology

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Timeline

Introduction
Water Tamers

Chapter 1
Engineering and Thinking Big

Chapter 2
Building Big: The Physics of Canals

Chapter 3
Amazing Canals

Chapter 4
Canal Catastrophes

Chapter 5
Building Big: The Physics of Dams

Chapter 6
Amazing Dams

Chapter 7
Dam Disasters

Glossary
Resources
Index