Learn more about pulleys with this hands-on activity!
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Build a Shaduf

Build a Shaduf

From Engineering

Ancient farmers used a long wooden lever called a shaduf to lift water from rivers to irrigate crops and for other uses. This simple tool was incredibly effective at making it easier to move water. In this activity, you'll harness the power of a lever as you design and build a working model of a simple shaduf.

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Demolition by Slingshot

Demolition by Slingshot

From Wacky Contraptions

In this challenge, you can practice following the engineering design process—from brainstorming and drawing a plan to building, testing, evaluating, and possibly redesigning your contraption. Not only will you learn to follow the engineering design process, you will also gain experience with the elastic potential energy of rubber bands and get ideas for future contraptions.

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Build a Wind Instrument

Build a Wind Instrument

From The Science of Sound

Musicians make sound with wind instruments by blowing air into them. You can make your own wind instrument and do some experiments to make different types of sound!

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Wind Can Do Work

Wind Can Do Work

From Renewable Energy

Use your engineering skills to design a windmill, then test how powerful the wind can be!

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Reviews

Selected as a “recommended title” by the Kansas National Education Association’s Reading Circle Commission

Booklist Series Nonfiction Showcase

“The newest Picture Book Science series introduces simple machines through poems, declarative sentences that define technical vocabulary in context, and relatable examples supported by bright illustrations featuring diverse casts of characters. Worthy additions for elementary STEAM collections.”

School Library Journal

“The combination of humor and everyday experiences make this an enjoyable introduction to simple machines for primary grades.”

Children's Literature

“With just a few lines per page, the book’s contents are both approachable and informative, describing the anatomy of a pulley and introducing concepts such as loads and grooves in a relatable way.”

Detailed Book Description

What if an elephant sat on your book and refused to move? How could you lift it? Very carefully!

You might want to use a pulley. A pulley is one of six simple machines that are designed to make different kinds of work such as lifting, pulling, pushing easier. In Pulleys Pull Their Weight: Simple Machines for Kids, readers solve the problem of a heavy elephant by learning about forces and how we can increase the amount we can lift simply by using a pulley. Concepts including mechanical advantage, moveable pulleys, and compound pulleys make sense with engaging illustrations and lots of real-life examples that kids can spot in their home, schools, and neighborhoods.

An introductory poem offers language arts connections while a hands-on activity at the end reinforces concepts in the book. A glossary and photographs offer even more supplemental learning opportunities.

Available In:
Hardcover, $20.95
9781647410872
Paperback, $13.95
9781647410902
Includes: Glossary
Specs: 9.5 x 9.5 size | 4-color interior | 32 pages
Subject: Science

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