Simple Machines

by Deborah Hodge, Ontario Science Centre, Ray Boudreau (Photographer)

Thirteen experiments about the six simple machines -- the lever, wheel and axle, pulley, inclined plane, wedge and screw -- teach kids about basic science. Full-color photographs and step-by-step instructions clearly explain each activity, so that kids can make the most of the machines with minimal help from adults. Part of the Starting with Science series, Simple Machines encourages children to have fun as they learn basic science and fills a need for primary-level science resources.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published June 30, 1996

About the author

Deborah Hodge is the award-winning author of 25 books for children. She specializes in writing engaging nonfiction for primary aged children. Her most recent title is Up We Grow! A Year in the Life of a Small, Local Farm, a book on sustainable farming and where our food comes from. Her other work includes, The Kids Book of Canada's Railway, winner of the Information Book Award of Canada, and Lily and the Mixed-up Letters, named an Outstanding Book for Young People with Disabilities. Deborah is a former primary teacher and curriculum writer for the BC Ministry of Education. She lives in Vancouver, Canada.

Reviews

[Nola Tillman]

This book was filled with several great science experiments that young children will adore. We will have to check it out from the library yet again - we have already checked it out three times - to finish up the experiments. The pictures are terrific, and the applications of simple machines are excellent. My kids really enjoyed these experiments.

[J]

Ok assembly of basic experiments, but I have seen a few better with a little clearer context. Maybe this is just for a younger target audience than I was looking for.

[Dolly]

We recently attended a science program at our local library and this was one of the books that was featured in the back for people to borrow. I was a little bit surprised that our girls chose this book because it's not a story, but I could see that they were intrigued by the different projects and crafts they could make.

The book has thirteen projects that fundamentally explain the six simple machines. Two pages are dedicated to each project and while they don't necessarily look easy to do, they certainly look like they are within the abilities of an elementary school-age child. The projects are accompanied by big, colorful photographs that depict the final project and often a small caption to help explain some detail.

The narrative is simple enough for children to understand and many of the projects could be completed with little supervision by an adult. Our girls were very excited to try a few of the projects. We enjoyed reading this book together.

[Amanda]

Great book with lots of good activities. Easy explanations of simple machines.