Growing a Beanstalk for Jack

April 1, 2020

Gr 3-5-These books strike a balance between fairy tale, hands-on activity, and real-world applications. Each title begins with a simple retelling of the fairy tale. A STEM problem from the story is identified, followed by the activity directions. Activities use common materials and instruct readers to test their design to see if it is the best solution to the problem. In Making a Raft for the Three Billy Goats Gruff, real-world applications link the raft for the billy goats to a discussion of matter and density. Making a Pulley System for Rapunzel compares the pulley for Rapunzel to modern elevators. Images range from illustrations of fairy tale scenes to photos of actual billy goats or towers. Text boxes share fun facts. A review quiz with short answer and multiple choice questions appears in the back matter. Online educator resources provide lesson plans, curriculum standards, and links to related websites. VERDICT An excellent choice for those integrating STEM activities into their curriculum.

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