Flight & Engineering Projects

Adams, Richard C., and Peter H. Goodwin. Engineering Projects for Young Scientists. (Illus.; from the Projects for Young Scientists Series.) Danbury, CT: Franklin Watts, 2001. 128pp. $25.00. 99-30418. ISBN 0-531-11668-9. Glossary; Index; C.I.P.
YA
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In this volume, the authors extend their earlier work on physics projects for young scientists into the domain of engineering projects. In that field, one cannot be concerned only with physical knowledge for its own sake, but must also deal with the design of objects subject to economic, environmental, and safety constraints. That is, one must deal with projects that develop objects which must be cheaper, smaller, lighter, faster, and cleaner than competitive designs in order for the objects to survive into the marketplace or beyond. The book contains several interesting projects in the areas of simple bridge building, elementary car design, sound, and visible light. As an added bonus to the volume, there are brief chapters on requirements for science fairs and physics olympiads.

DiSpezio, Michael. Flying Things: Simple Experiments in the Science of Flight. (Illus.) Lebanon, IN: Pearson Learning, 2000. 77pp. $12.95. ISBN 1572328649. K-YA, T, GA Order

Michael DiSpezio's Flying Things is not just a book; it is a complete and friendly learning experience. Written in a language kids understand, the book has illustrations, mentions the materials required for each experiment, and is an ideal adventure in self-paced fun. In the classroom, the volume can support an independent module on flight. However, if a large block of time is impractical, individual activities can be adopted to enhance classroom topics such as transportation, technology, birds, and the atmosphere. Science education should be fun for students as they gain a conceptual understanding of the subject through reading, experiencing, and observing. DiSpezio's book fosters such an understanding. This book is a library of quick, fun, and motivating learning experiences. Kids can jump from one activity to another, filling rainy afternoons or lazy summer days at home or in camp. The activities may even lead to some creative ideas for science projects.

Farndon, John. Flight. (Illus.; from the Science Experiments Series.) Tarrytown, NY: Benchmark Books, 2001. 32pp. $16.95. 2001025214. ISBN 0-7614-1342-1. Glossary; Index; C.I.P.
EI, EA
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On the whole, this book is a well-written and well-illustrated presentation of some of the basic concepts of flight, from airplanes and balloons to kites and gliders. The experiments presented require materials that would be accessible to any primary school student, either in school or at home. The concepts behind the experiments are complex and would probably require follow-up by those youngsters who are very interested. The inclusion of girls in the descriptions of the experiments is particularly welcome. This book would serve as a good starting point for students interested in exploring the science of flight for their school's science fair.

Houghton, Janaye Matteson and Robert S. Houghton. Circuit Sense for Elementary Teachers and Students: Understanding and Building Simple Logic Circuits. (Illus.) Englewood, CO: Teacher Ideas Press, 1994. 65pp. $13.00. 93-30270. ISBN 1-56308-149-0. Index; C.I.P.
K-EA, T
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More than a manual on how to assemble simple circuits, the book provides an explanation, in understandable English, of electricity, circuits, and how they work. The text is written at the fifth-grade level; however, the projects and activities are intended for grades K through 6. The appendices offer troubleshooting advice, information on where to order parts, and, most important, simple circuit diagrams for a student workbook. Terms are explained one at a time, whenever it becomes necessary in the circuit assembly examples. The circuits are taken off the paper and presented in a more meaningful light to the students, while simple questions throughout the text make the student stop and think about the ramifications of what they are building, as well as its usefulness in today's world. This, in conjunction with the easy-to-follow illustrations, allows the children to understand fully the complexities of the circuit. The principles of the text are straightforward and brought out with each lesson. This book will be a welcome addition to any classroom and an invaluable resource into the opening of new worlds to the students.

Murphy, Pat, et al. The Science Explorer: Family Experiments from the World's Favorite Hands-On Science Museum. (Illus.; an Exploratorium-at-Home Book.) NY: Henry Holt, 1996. 27pp. $12.95. ISBN 0-8050-4536-8. Index; C.I.P.
K-YA, T, GA
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The staff of the Exploratorium, the innovative hands-on science museum in San Francisco, has produced several publications for outside use. The first was a collection of activities written for high school teachers. This was followed by four books of physical science activities written for "anyone interested in learning about science." All five volumes are excellent. Now comes this Exploratorium-at-Home Book, experiments for the family. It appears to be just as good as the earlier ones. All of the activities were tested by families in their own homes. The body of the text contains over 50 activities, organized into nine sections. The sections deal with topics such as bubbles; light, color, and seeing; paper airplanes; static electricity; sound, music, and hearing; and mixtures. Each activity includes an icon, indicating the time required to perform it; a list of materials needed; and steps to be followed. The steps are well illustrated with clear diagrams. Some of the activities are old standards found in many sources. But here the procedures are clear, and often a new twist is given to an old standard. This is an excellent book, and one that should be of interest not only to children and their families, but also to elementary school teachers, scout leaders, and others working with young people.

Nankivell-Aston, Sally and Dorothy Jackson. Science Experiments With Simple Machines. (Illus.; from the Science Experiments Series.) Danbury, CT: Franklin Watts, 2000. 32pp. $20.00. 99-0544289. ISBN 0531145794. Glossary; Index; C.I.P. EP, EI Order

The Science Experiments series is a winner for elementary school students seeking a progressive approach to science. Recent changes in pedagogy for teaching science to such students are reflected in the series: The students are challenged to think, make predictions, perform "fair tests," and experience their results with the use of different senses. The introduction to the book includes the advice "observe carefully, which includes feeling as well as looking" and the admonition "Don't be upset if your predictions aren't correct, as scientists learn a lot from unexpected results." Importantly, no "answers" are given in the book. The appealing, multicultural photographs stimulate activities, each of which illustrates important scientific concepts without extensive mathematical analyses. Whether for classroom use or science fair ideas, this book belongs in the elementary school classroom.

Rathjen, Don, and Paul Doherty. Square Wheels and Other Easy-to-Build, Hands-On Science Activities. (Illus.) San Francisco: Exploratorium, 2002. 144pp. $19.95. ISBN 0-943451-55-8. Index.
EA-YA, T, GA
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Children learn science best when intensely engaged. The Exploratorium, a San Francisco museum of hands-on science, art, and perception has gathered into this volume 31 nifty, engaging activities. Some can be quickly and easily thrown together using simple materials found around the house. None of them require extreme skill in machining or electronics. All offer a "wow" factor that is likely to direct the curious intellect beyond the confines of the printed page. There are nuggets here for children of all ages, and even jaded old science teachers will be delighted. Each activity includes a precise and detailed materials list, assembly instructions, guide to exploration, descriptions of the science involved, and suggestions for extending the activities. An included guide for teachers offers suggestions for many diverse ways to use the activities both inside and outside the classroom. Science-fair projects as well as local traveling science museum exhibits can be based on these activities. True science is open ended, and the ideas in this book are a jumping-off point for a wide range of explorations.

Schmidt, Norman. Super Paper Airplanes. (Illus.) NY: Sterling, 1995. 96pp. $19.95. 94-35543. ISBN 1895569079. Glossary; Index; C.I.P. EA-YA Order

Here is a fun book for anyone with enthusiasm for airplanes, and extra fun for anyone who can use paper, ruler, pencil, scissors, and glue stick with modest skill. The bulk of the 96 pages of this handsome volume is given over to very detailed directions, with excellent illustrations, for constructing 18 different paper airplanes. Once adjusted carefully, the planes glide well, with gravity as their only propulsion system. The book opens with a one-page review of human fascination with flight, from the days of Egypt, Greece, and China to Europe and actual controlled flight. For each aircraft inspiring a paper airplane, from early gliders and the biplane of the Wright brothers to supersonic military aircraft and the futuristic transatmospheric vehicle (TAV) or hypersonic transport, the author gives a paragraph of historical background and a paragraph describing the flight and other characteristics of the plane. Add to these a concluding section on controlling roll, pitch, and yaw in the paper models, and the reader is assured of at least an elementary introduction to and overview of the field of aeronautics.

Stine, G. Harry. Handbook of Model Rocketry, 6th Ed. (Illus.) NY: Wiley, 1994. xv+349pp. $17.95. 93-33018. ISBN 0-471-59361-3. Index; C.I.P.
JH, YA, T, GA
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This handbook is to the model rocketeer--actual or aspirant--what the boy scout manual is to the scout or would-be scout. It is, in fact, the 6th edition of the official handbook of the National Association of Rocketry. As such, it covers virtually every aspect of this "technological recreation" that is not only a popular hobby, but also a widely used educational activity. The basic principles of motion of bodies, aerodynamics, rocket propulsion, electricity, and tracking aerial objects are clearly and simply presented, along with their practical applications in building, testing, and flying model rockets. Proven techniques of building and flying successful models are presented clearly with the aid of sketches and photographs. The writer has a droll sense of humor that keeps the text lively. The brief bibliography is excellent. The epilogue challenges the reader to go on and advance the art.

Wood, Robert W. 39 Easy Engineering Experiments. (Illus. by Steve Hoeft; from the Science for Kids Series.) Blue Ridge Summit, PA: TAB, 1992. 132pp. $16.95. 91-12612. ISBN 0-8306-1946-1. Glossary; Index; C.I.P.
K-YA
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This set of rather elementary science experiments is well done and should find applications in early science and remedial high school labs. The book is aimed at producing an intuitive feel for science basics as applied to engineering. Today, in a world where video games routinely misrepresent ballistic paths, forces, and all sorts of reality, this type of book fills a void. The book's 39 experiments are described on three pages each. Although not noted in the contents, there are nine major sections, on gravity, air, water, ramps and levers, friction, forces, inertia, mechanics, and science fair projects. This book can be a very interesting starting point for valuable discussions. The materials are simple and inexpensive. In the hands of a good teacher, the book may be a valued tool.