Simple Machines

Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science, Stage 2

by D.J. Ward, Mike Lowery (Illustrator)

Machines are everywhere!

They help make work easier, like when you need to lift something heavy or reach way up high. Some machines are so simple that you might not think of them as machines. There are six simple machines: the lever, the wheel and axle, the pulley, the ramp, the wedge, and the screw.

Can you adjust a seesaw to lift an elephant? What happens when you combine two or more simple machines? Read and find out!

Genres: Science, Picture Books, Nonfiction, Childrens, Stem

40 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 6, 2015

Reviews

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book explores and explains six simple machines, and how they are used to make work easier and play more fun.

[Tower Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

P

[Alison · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping for more explanation for some of the machines (wedge in particular).

[Adrianne Rosal · Rating 5 out of 5]

More of those simple machines!!

[Joy Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

good examples of the six simple machines

[Christine Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

ATA Storytime Kit -- Engineering Minds -- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) -- Science --

Note: Could possibly be used for storytime if you have a small group and they children are upper pre-school (end of year) to elementary. Also, you may want to break the reading sessions into small time frames.

Machines help make work easier, like when you need to lift something heavy or reach way up high. There are six simple machines: the lever, the wheel and axle, the pulley, the ramp, the wedge, and the screw. Can you adjust a seesaw to lift an elephant? What happens when you combine two or more simple machines? Read and find out!

Subject: Simple machines -- Juvenile literature.

With colorful illustrations and engaging text, Simple Machines will delight young readers who love figuring out how things work. Featuring rich vocabulary bolded throughout the text, this book also includes a glossary and a find out more section with a lever experiment and web research prompts.

Both the text and the artwork were vetted for accuracy by Dr. Babatunde A. Ogunnaike, dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Delaware.

This is a Level 2 Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science title, which means the book explores more challenging concepts for children in the primary grades and supports the Common Core Learning Standards, Next Generation Science Standards, and the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) standards. Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science is the winner of the American Association for the Advancement of Science/Subaru Science Books & Films Prize for Outstanding Science Series.

[Esutterlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple machines in an easy-to-read, fun book: Lever, Wheel and axle, Pulley, Ramp, Wedge, Screw.

Seesaws, baseball, cars, flagpole,s lifts and elevators, Pyramids, axes, and spiral staircases are some of the illustrations used to simply demonstrate the concepts behind these machines, showing not only how, but why they are used.

A bit of humor is evidenced in the artwork, and animals brighten the illustrations, so the technology is introduced without being overwhelming or boring. The only reason I did not give it a "5" is that I have not yet kid-tested it, so am not sure if the level 2 is accurate or if I am right that this could hold their attention.

[Maya]

I chose this book because not many non fiction picture books about machines for young readers exist. I chose to pair it with "The story machine" by Tom McLaughlin. This book is about a little boy who finds an old type writer and figures that it is a "story machine." He can't get it to work at first but then figures it out. I thought that it was a great pairing since the non-fiction book explains how various machines work, and the non-fiction book is about a child who figures out how to work one.

[Rebecca]

A colorful introduction to simple machines, the tools that make everyday life easier. This book explains, in simple terms, how six simple machines (lever, pulley, wheel and axle, ramp, wedge, and screw) work and where they can be found. Includes a glossary, websites to visit, and experiments to try.

[Allie]

Fun picture book about simple machines (and a good refresher for grown-ups). Would pair well with a Rube Goldberg STE(A)M activity for older kids.