The Science and Technology of Leonardo da Vinci

by Elizabeth Pagel-Hogan, Micah Rauch (Illustrator)

A science biography that examines the life and work of Leonardo da Vinci and offers kids the opportunity to make their own designs and inventions with hands-on activities! Leonardo da Vinci is famous for the Mona Lisa and other works of art. His other claim to fame? Being an inventor! During the Renaissance, inventors and other creative thinkers designed and constructed many new things. It was a time of discovery, wonder, and exploration. And one of the people on the forefront of that awakening was Leonardo da Vinci. In The Science and Technology of Leonardo da Vinci, readers ages 9 through 12 explore the life of one of the world's most amazing minds. They discover what it might have been like to live in the seventeenth century, when work, entertainment, medicine, travel, and food were very different. They ponder the same kinds of questions that drove Leonardo to tinker and experiment endlessly, even while creating artwork that influenced entire generations who came after him. What is the inside of the body like? How might humans fly? How can geometry be used to design strong buildings? His dedication to invention, experimentation, and art, along with his insatiable curiosity, gave the world new insight into anatomy, botany, engineering, and much more. Kids gain these same insights through hands-on STEM activities, essential questions, text-to-world connections, and links to online resources, including primary sources, that encourage readers to take a closer look at the world of the Renaissance. Projects use materials already found in most homes, reimagining and repurposing everyday items, as well as those found in the recycling bin.

Make career connections in the fields of engineering, art, medicine, and more!

Aligns with Common Core State Standards

Projects include Designing a parachute, Making a
camera obscura, Working with perspective, Designing a water clock.

Addresses disciplinary core ideas (e.g., "Structure and Properties of Matter") and crosscutting concepts (e.g., "Energy and Matter;" "Influence of Engineering, Technology, and Science on Society and the Environment") for NSTA's NGSS curriculum.

Numerous, direct connections to Dimension 2 of the C3 Framework ("History" Grades 3-5), providing opportunities for young readers to explore how a historically significant person evolved in context and engendered both scientific and social change.

Additional materials include a glossary, a list of media for further learning, a selected bibliography, and index.

　 About the Build It Science Biographies set and Nomad Press The Science and Technology of Leonardo da Vinci is part of a set of three Build It Science Biographies that capture the curiosity of three science revolutionaries who were able to glimpse beyond the limits of human experience and make discoveries that continue to resonate today. Other titles in this set include The Science and Technology of Ben Franklin and The Science and Technology of Marie Curie. Nomad Press books in the Build It series integrate content with participation. Combining content with inquiry-based projects stimulates learning and makes it active and alive. Nomad's unique approach simultaneously grounds kids in factual knowledge while allowing them the space to be curious, creative, and critical thinkers. All books are leveled for Guided Reading level and Lexile and align with Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards. All titles are available in paperback, hardcover, and ebook formats.

Genres: Nonfiction

258 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 15, 2021

About the author

Elizabeth Pagel-Hogan was a science educator on stage and a historical re-enactor at museums. Now she is an author and educator. She's the author of Animal Allies: 15 Amazing Women in Wildlife Research, The Science and Technology of Leonardo da Vinci and more. Look for her stories and crafts in the magazine Highlights for Children. Elizabeth lives with her family and pet schnoodle in Pittsburgh, PA. She loves board games, birding, and baking. She’s a lifelong runner, avid community scientist, and can usually deliver the punchline.

Reviews

[Amy Steinman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I really enjoyed this book. I read it with my daughter. We love art, and learning so much about Leonardo Da Vinci brought me back to my college days when I learned about him in art history classes while in Italy. This books gives such a great hands on experience for kids that will keep them engaged the entire time with so many creative educational tools they can create—and have so much fun with! We learned so much about Leonardo and the complexities of him and his life--and all of the amazing thins he was able to learn and do. My daughter found it to be so neat that he was so many things at once (like a medical doctor, mathematician, etc), all of which enabled him to be one of the greatest artists of all time. This was such an informative and well-researched book, we learned so much from it. Also, the illustrations and photographs were such a feast for our eyes the whole time. Would highly recommend!

[Maria Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Combining cartoons, photos, detailed illustrations, sidebar glossaries, QR code links to primary sources, and fun STEM experiments (like a rubber band box lute or a camera obscura), this book introduces kids to Leonardo Da Vinci, his art, engineering masterpieces, and discoveries of anatomy. As well as his theories and tinkerings with mathematics, Astronomy, and flight. Exploring themes of taking risks, making mistakes, fascinating changes in scientific beliefs and society, and current creations and discoveries that derived from his work, this is a really enjoyable read about an amazing and complex man.