Donna Latham

Bridges and Tunnels: Investigate Feats of Engineering invites children ages 9 and up to explore the innovation and physical science behind structures our world depends on. Trivia and fun facts illustrate engineering ingenuity and achievements. Activities and projects encourage children to learn about the engineering process and to embrace trial and error. Children will engage in a hands-on exploration of Newton’s Third Law of Motion and of forces that push and pull on structures. They'll show more make an egg bungee jump and a soda pop can engine. They'll experiment with a triangular toothpick dome, liquefaction, and corrosion. In Bridges and Tunnels: Investigate Feats of Engineering, children will explore their own engineering and building skills as they create several bridge models. show less

I loved the 25 different experiments that were included in this book, but this has a lot of information in it so it may be overwhelming to a child. There are labeled diagrams, vocabulary words, procedures, questions, and lots of fun ahead with this book. I could see the vocabulary being a space that children usually get tripped up on, but with the help of a teacher or the glossary in the back, this could help. There is almost an information overload but in a good way. This book was a great show more source of experiment ideas and just good questions for students to ask! show less

Amazing. I highly recommend it for the information, and even more so for the activities. Some are just for fun, some are actual science experiments (suitable for science fairs or for homeschooling and enrichment), some are crafts. I even found a craft that I can use (salvaging the pocket from discarded clothing, attaching a magnet, and hanging it on the refrigerator for pens, coupons, etc.). All ages!!

Latham, Donna. Edited by Adam Miller, Andrew Farrow, and Adrian Vigliano. Sci-Hi Series: Ecology. Chicago, IL: Raintree, 2009.

Characters: N/A

Setting: N/A

Theme: earth science, ecology, environment, ecosystems, pollution, competition among living species, extinction, symbiosis

Genre: Youth nonfiction; juvenile literature; earth science

Golden Quote: N/A

Summary: A comprehensive media rich into the study of ecology. Complete with colorful photographs, fun and interesting facts, including lab show more experiments, assessments, definitions, as well as information and resources on how to find about more about ecology

Audience: grade level: 7th and up

Curriculum ties: supplemental resource to tie into a variety of earth science ecology science units for middle school and high school curriculums; teachers can use this book in addition to conducting lab experiments such as planting and growing a class garden, examining soil samples, etc.

Awards: None

Personal response: This Sci-Hi series reminds me a lot of National Geographic Kids. It delivers complex content in a media rich format that is appealing for young readers. There is a vast array of fun, interesting, and “gross” facts accompanied with high quality photographs that clearly explains the concepts behind each scientific subject. Each book contains a table of contents, a glossary, and a “Find Out More” section (additional resources for children to go more in-depth with the particular topic/subject at hand). Furthermore, each book is written by educators with subject consultant experts in the specific field. Highly recommended to supplement any science curriculum in subjects that may need further knowledge and understanding or for students who have a specific interest in a particular area of scientific study. show less