Zoom It: Invent New Machines That Move (Invent It) (Fact Finders: Invent It)

Zoom It: Invent New Machines That Move (Invent It) (Fact Finders: Invent It)

Do you have a need for speed? Does power make your heart pound? In Zoom It, you’ll invent a gas powered boat, a catapult, an electric car, and many other amazing moving contraptions. When it comes to inventing, your imagination has no limits! Each title in this series begins with a six step process for the budding engineer to follow; seven or eight projects follow the steps. While the statement of engineering principles is a positive, few middle school students will be able to state them without adult guidance. Full-color photos take the reader through the "create" step. The "improve" step lends itself to additional scientific or engineering processes and is a highlight of the series.-- "Library Media Connection Online" Engineer Tammy Enz illustrates seven projects with photos and step-by-step instructions. One project is "water shoes." Leonardo da Vinci came up with designs for lots of things, she writes, including shoes for walking on water. Water-shoe inventors need to have a passing acquaintance with the principle of buoyancy, which describes why objects float. And they've got to think about ways to spread out their weight. This is a great guide for kids who want to get their "engineering" feet wet.-- "Ithaca Child" Tammy Enz holds a bachelor's degree in civil engineering and a master's degree in journalism and mass communications. She teaches at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and has written dozens of books on science and engineering topics for young people.