Gizmos & Gadgets: Creating Science Contraptions That Work (& Knowing Why) (Williamson Kids Can! Series) (Paperback)

~ (Author), Michael Kline (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-7-Hauser gives directions for making a bunch of gadgets, gizmos, contraptions, and doohickeys constructed with stuff often found in cupboards, closets, garages, and "junk" drawers. Materials such as plastic soda bottles, marbles, buttons, straws, and cardboard tubes are cut, trimmed, shaped, and bent in order to be glued, stapled, sewn, and taped. They are ultimately formed into objects to be tossed, balanced, spun, flung, and strung-all to demonstrate various principles of physics. Also included are nudges to encourage individual forays into the worlds of problem solving and inventing. Fun to make-and probably fun to play with-the crafts, if followed sequentially, introduce such basic topics as motion, energy, balancing, and gravity. Even if used as random crafts, they will lead to questions regarding the predictable behaviors of such objects as boomerangs and yo-yos. Classroom teachers can team this with Vicki Cobb's Why Can't You Unscramble an Egg? (Lodestar, 1990; o.p.) and Bernie Zubrowski's Raceways: Having Fun with Balls and Tracks (Morrow, 1985; o.p.).
Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

Using simple household items to create toys that spin, fling, collide, and whiz, kids will grasp the basics of concepts of gravity, inertia, balance, and energy. Projects are very hands-on. Most activities can be completed with minimal assistance. Every page is jam-packed (in age-appropriate vocabulary) with factoids, fun facts about famous inventors, and inspiration for science lovers of all ages. A 1999 Parents' Choice® Silver Honor. (Parents' Choice®) -- From Parents' Choice

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Williamson Publishing Company (June 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1885593260
• ISBN-13: 978-1885593269
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #64,755 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #26 in	Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Physics
  #48 in	Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Experiments & Projects

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars great book for scout leaders, May 22, 2000

By	v. danz (ma) - See all my reviews

gizmos and gadgets contains easy, readable information on scientific principles along with appropriate, fun, hands-on experiements. Makes for great reading for scout leaders, teachers or those who like to mess around at home with their kids. Good addition to any library.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Intro to Physics!, June 10, 2007

By	z_mama5 (San Marcos, CA United States) - See all my reviews

My nine year old son loves this book! It has some great projects to do (using easy-to-find materials) while also introducing famous scientists and scientific principles like the laws of motion. We were following the The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home, Revised and Updated Edition and found this book to be much better than the books it recommended for Physics.