Engineer It! Road Projects

November 1, 2017

Gr 1-4-Six projects per volume illustrate engineering principles by having students create models out of ordinary materials. Straws, plastic bins, cardboard, and a lot of duct tape are all pressed into service. Key concepts are explained clearly in introductory matter with well-chosen photos and graphics. These books are a trifle uneven; for instance, the projects in Road require a lot of setup (as many as 15 steps) for a negligible payoff, and those in Tunnel require a lot of balancing and wedging in order to work. While the reading level and conceptual level of these projects are suitable for elementary schoolers, the skill level for executing them is higher, making them more appropriate as family or team projects. Skyscraper is the standout title; once kids have made a structure out of pretzels and Nutella and then destroyed it with an apple wrecking ball, they get to eat the rubble! VERDICT Consider Skyscraper and select the other titles as needed.

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