[ MACHINES ON A CONSTRUCTION SITE (HEINEMANN READ AND LEARN: MACHINES AT WORK) ] BY Smith, Sian ( Author ) [ 2013 ] Paperback

by Siân Smith

Providing an early introduction to STEM education, this book uses simple text and labeled photographs to examine a wide range of exciting machines used on a construction site, revealing how each machine solves a particular problem. Machines covered include diggers, drills, dump trucks, bulldozers, wrecking balls, and more!

Paperback

First published July 1, 2013

Reviews

[Andrea Creswell]

Machines on a Construction Site by Sian Smith is a simple non-fiction book for young readers. It uses a basic question and answer format to introduce information about a construction site. This book has many text features such as a table of contents, bold words, labels, real pictures, a picture glossary and an index. I would pair this book with Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker and Tom Lichtenheld to review vocabulary and information. As Camp suggests I would use the DR-TA reading strategy with this non-fiction book simply because the format of the book matches this activity so well. In this activity the teacher directs the students to make predictions about the text and then discuss the answers they find. In this text, the teacher can ask students for predictions after reading each heading, and then they can read each section to learn more and to check their predictions. After reading both texts, students can create webs describing individual machines found on a construction site, or they create a descriptive paragraph about a machine of their choice.

References:
Camp, D. (2010). It takes two: Teaching with twin texts of fact and fiction. The Reading
Teacher, 53(5), 400-408.
Rinker, S. D. and Lichtenheld, T. (2011). Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site. New York. Scholastic Inc.

[Karla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this early childhood nonfiction story.
Pictures are wonderful.
Language is rich and age appropriate. Engaging.
Well done.

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Smith examines a wide range of machines used on a construction site, combining simple text and clearly captioned full-color photographs to reveal how each machine is used to solve a variety of construction challenges. Machines described include excavators, drills, dump trucks, bulldozers and wrecking balls.

Headings in the form of questions encourage readers to focus on the information provided in the next bit of text. The slender volume contains a glossary and an index, too. Readers fascinated by large machines will return to this book over and over.