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Junk Drawer Engineering: 25 Construction Challenges That Don't Cost a Thing (3)
Children love challenges, especially ones that involve hands-on experimentation and friendly competition. Can they build a sturdy bridge using only pasta and glue, one that a toy car can drive both under and over? Can they create a device to safely catch a freefalling egg? The projects in Junk Drawer Engineering demonstrate that you don’t need high-tech equipment to make learning fun—just what you can find in your recycling bin and around the house.
Science teacher Bobby Mercer provides readers with 25 open-ended design challenges that can be modified to meet the skill levels of the children doing them, from elementary school kids to teenagers. Though each challenge includes suggested materials and one step-by-step, illustrated solution, children are encouraged to modify and improve on the basic design. Educators and parents will find this title a handy resource to teach children problem-solving skills and applied physics, all while having a lot of fun.
Science teacher Bobby Mercer provides readers with 25 open-ended design challenges that can be modified to meet the skill levels of the children doing them, from elementary school kids to teenagers. Though each challenge includes suggested materials and one step-by-step, illustrated solution, children are encouraged to modify and improve on the basic design. Educators and parents will find this title a handy resource to teach children problem-solving skills and applied physics, all while having a lot of fun.
224 pages, Paperback
Published May 1, 2017
10 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 27, 2018
Hi-Low
Target Audience: High school
Junk Drawer Engineering is a book that contains 25 "challenges" that you can make with random stuff around the house. Each construction challenge is well laid out and organized in the book. Titles and headings are bold and logically divided into steps that are clearly labelled and numbered. Each step shows at least one picture which increases comprehension of the directions and other text. The sentence structure is clear and to the point, many sentences start with a verb (put, add, try, let). This combined with some Tier II vocabulary (calculate, support, previous) makes it a useful option for increasing the child's vocabulary through the science context and increases access for the older student.
What makes this an interesting choice for a hi-low book is that it is one that can be picked up and thumbed through at any time. Kids can jump around to different challenges if they feel like they don't understand. There are many pictures for each step.
The book is a little small for trying to hold, follow directions, and building. It might be easier to actually build if it had a spiral binding or was a bigger size and could stay open without a prop since kids would need both hands to build and follow instructions. The book is inspiration to kinesthetic learners and proves that being creative and solving problems can be done by anyone with anything.
Target Audience: High school
Junk Drawer Engineering is a book that contains 25 "challenges" that you can make with random stuff around the house. Each construction challenge is well laid out and organized in the book. Titles and headings are bold and logically divided into steps that are clearly labelled and numbered. Each step shows at least one picture which increases comprehension of the directions and other text. The sentence structure is clear and to the point, many sentences start with a verb (put, add, try, let). This combined with some Tier II vocabulary (calculate, support, previous) makes it a useful option for increasing the child's vocabulary through the science context and increases access for the older student.
What makes this an interesting choice for a hi-low book is that it is one that can be picked up and thumbed through at any time. Kids can jump around to different challenges if they feel like they don't understand. There are many pictures for each step.
The book is a little small for trying to hold, follow directions, and building. It might be easier to actually build if it had a spiral binding or was a bigger size and could stay open without a prop since kids would need both hands to build and follow instructions. The book is inspiration to kinesthetic learners and proves that being creative and solving problems can be done by anyone with anything.
September 18, 2017
This has a good hit/miss ratio in terms of activities. There aren't too many activities, which allows the author to describe/depict them well including information about the science behind the activity.
I have two minor complaints. One, the definition of junk can be stretched a bit. I personally would never have copious amounts of plumbing insulation around and doubt anyone outside of construction would either. My second similar complaint is that I doubt most parents would have an old monitor laying around and even if they did I doubt they'd feel comfortable taking it apart.
All in all a great read for STEM centric parents or parents of kids who are in interested in how things work (isn't that every kid?)
I have two minor complaints. One, the definition of junk can be stretched a bit. I personally would never have copious amounts of plumbing insulation around and doubt anyone outside of construction would either. My second similar complaint is that I doubt most parents would have an old monitor laying around and even if they did I doubt they'd feel comfortable taking it apart.
All in all a great read for STEM centric parents or parents of kids who are in interested in how things work (isn't that every kid?)
February 24, 2019
This book is super cool
TONS of GREAT ideas! I loved the mint can project, and I'd done the tube challenge before (that's a quick, easy one to start out with)
The structure challenge could be ramped up a bit with some eggs, but it's messy...
Marshmallow structures are always a hit with littles on up
The pasta bridge is great, but harder for kids to do without guidance- glue guns aren't recommnded for kids at home or school
Penny boats were approached differently- I'd never encouraged kids to mold foil around shapes like lids and boxes as these authors had---
I LOVED seeing the plethora of photos
TONS of GREAT ideas! I loved the mint can project, and I'd done the tube challenge before (that's a quick, easy one to start out with)
The structure challenge could be ramped up a bit with some eggs, but it's messy...
Marshmallow structures are always a hit with littles on up
The pasta bridge is great, but harder for kids to do without guidance- glue guns aren't recommnded for kids at home or school
Penny boats were approached differently- I'd never encouraged kids to mold foil around shapes like lids and boxes as these authors had---
I LOVED seeing the plethora of photos
February 15, 2019
I really like this compilation of design challenges, with examples of solutions. Some of these challenges I have tried before, but others I had never thought of. Other reviewers have noted that not all of the materials needed are common “junk” that anyone might have, and certainly none of it is really cost free, but I still think it is a great book and I am excited to try out some of these creative experiments.
January 17, 2017
So much fun! I would think most homes have the supplies to make these many fun projects with the kids! Science fair and engineering projects just got easy and inexpensive! Kids and adults alike will enjoy this book. Instructions are clear and easy to follow. Loads of photos.
May 30, 2017
Great ideas but the black and white pictures really diminish the quality. Books like this should have color pictures.
September 16, 2017
Some great ideas!!
July 14, 2018
Some good ideas, good photos and easy to follow directions.
Cons: small type and all black and white
Cons: small type and all black and white
November 15, 2019
This book has many interesting and fun projects that you can do at home, it also shoews you how you can make the activity fun for all ages of kids
November 21, 2020
Elementary
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews