CANALS AND DAMS: INVESTIGATE FEATS OF ENGINEERING WITH 25 PROJECTS

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.

Donna Latham is an award-winning author and playwright. She is the author of Amazing Biome Projects You Can Build Yourself, Backyard Biology Investigate Habitats Outside Your Door With 25 Projects, Deciduous, Forests, Deserts, Garbage Investigate What Happens When You Throw It Out With 25 Projects, Norah Jones, Oceans, Respiration and Photosynthesis, Savannas and Grasslands, and Tundra. She is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and the Society of Midland Authors. She lives in Batavia, Illinois. Andrew Christensen is a graduate of the Center for Cartoon Studies and an art director at a hobby game company. He lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

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!"