Getting from one place to another sounds easy if you are on a straight piece of land, but what if you have to get over--or under--a body of water or a deep gorge? Build a bridge! Bridges are the great connectors. They allow us to travel the twists and turns, highs and lows, ins and out of every geographic feature in our world.
Bridges! With 25 Science Projects for Kids introduces readers ages 7 to 10 to the concepts and vocabulary of bridge construction through the lenses of history, science, engineering, math, and technology.
From the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco to the Tower Bridge in London, bridges are a huge part of our life. But how are these amazing structures built? What forces keep it standing? What might cause it to fall down? And who decides which type of bridge to use? In Bridges! With 25 Science Projects for Kids, one of four titles in the Explore Engineering set, readers discover how these extraordinary feats of engineering are created, and apply what they have learned to hands-on, critical-thinking activities that include building different types of bridges, such as truss, cantilever, and suspension bridges, out of different materials and modeling different types of supports. They examine the natural forces that affect structure selection and appearance, and also learn about the types of support required for each. Trivia, cartoon illustrations, links to online videos and other sources, and clear diagrams round out this book and make it fun and interesting for class discussions.
Following the guidelines set forth in the NGSS/NSTA engineering and design standards, teachers can feel comfortable using this book as a guide for targeted learning in their classrooms. In the Explore Engineering set, readers ages 7 to 10 develop foundational understanding of the physics that guides the building and maintenance of bridges, canals, dams, tunnels, and skyscrapers.
Titles in the Explore Engineering set include Bridges! With 25 Science Projects for Kids;Canals and Dams! With 25 Science Projects for Kids; Tunnels! With 25 Science Projects for Kids; and Skyscrapers! With 25 Science Projects for Kids.
Nomad Press books in the Explore Your World series for children ages 7-10 integrate content with participation. Common Core State Standards, the Next Generation Science Standards, and STEM Education all place project-based learning as key building blocks in education. 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.
Industry Reviews
The Children's Book Review
"The need for more young people to be engaged in and interested in the STEM fields is a hot topic in children's literature at the moment, so Jennifer Swanson and Bryan Stone's
Bridges! is a welcome addition to the range of non-fiction elementary school level books available. Part of a set of four engineering-focused books for young readers,
Bridges! Specifically encourages young readers to interest themselves in bridges not just as amazing landmarks or historical artefacts, but as puzzles in critical thinking and problems to be solved. This is a challenging, hands-on approach to learning which is highly refreshing. . . .This book is a fun read, and a wonderful role-model: a great new addition to children's non-fiction."
School Library Connection "This newest addition in the Explore Your World series introduces young readers to the concepts and vocabulary of bridge construction. Through trivia, photographs, cartoon illustrations, clear diagrams and links to online videos and primary sources, readers will explore how some of the world's most extraordinary bridges were designed, created, and maintained. Opening with a timeline of bridges throughout history that includes a short introduction, this book enables young future engineers to explore the use of bridges to go over and under bodies of water. Five easy-to-read chapters explore the need for bridges, their engineering and design, types of bridges, building techniques, and famous bridges. A glossary, metric conversion table, resources and essential questions, and 25 hands-on STEM projects make this a fun and engaging must-have volume for every library serving young patrons. Index. Recommended."
