Key physical science concepts are presented in the context of outdoor adventures. Young nature lovers will learn about the mechanics of popular gear, and they’ll also discover the fascinating ways that simple machines occur naturally in the great outdoors.

Kids know that hockey sticks, water bottles with screw-on lids, and cleats are all used in sports. It may, however, be a surprise to them to learn that they’re all machines. This book teaches sports enthusiasts how to spot the simple machines they’ve never noticed and to analyze their favorite games as never before. Labeled diagrams explain concepts such as mechanical advantage, and examples of each kind of simple machine abound.

Scissors are commonly found on school supplies lists, but most students don't recognize them for the simple machines they are. This exploration of school buildings and grounds encourages critical thinking to uncover the simple machines that are often taken for granted and teaches basic physical science concepts in a fun way.

Simple machines are so common in our lives that we tend to overlook them even though they’re all around us—even during our favorite holidays! With explanations of the different kinds of simple machines, their mechanical advantages, and the ways each is used during various holidays, students will develop a deeper understanding of a fundamental component of the physical science curriculum.

The military is known for its big, powerful, and complex machinery. This book, however, lays out a number of examples, modern and historic, of how the armed forces use simple machines. A compelling presentation of physical science curriculum points.

Young readers probably don't realize that brooms are actually machines. The same goes for door handles, stairs, and many other objects that are commonly found in homes. Students will learn about mechanical advantage, force, and energy, and they will be able to recognize the simple machines they use in their own daily lives.

Research shows that environment-centered education improves student achievement. Whatever your school's setting-urban, suburban, or rural-you can create stimulating outdoor classrooms for your students, with a little help from Outdoor Science. Author and state science specialist Steve Rich shows teachers how to create outdoor learning spaces that can be used from year to year-with little extra effort or resources. These practical suggestions for creating, maintaining, and using outdoor classrooms work for both elementary and middle school students. The simple and inexpensive lessons satisf.

Introduces six simple machines, describing how they work in more complex machinery and how they are used every day.

Sticks and Stones presents a treasure trove of building and engineering ideas for children to employ in the great outdoors using materials readily available to them to create cabins, tipis, bridges, dams, and more. Many smaller scale projects are included, too, such as making ochre paint with shale, creating a fishing pole from a branch, and carving a marshmallow roasting stick. Opportunities and materials for constructive play exist everywhere in nature. Author Melissa Lennig (of the blog Fireflies and Mud Pies) introduces today’s screen-overloaded kids to this world of fun waiting just outside the door. Whether camping or hanging out in the back yard, children will marvel at the wonderful, useful tools and playthings they can create with natural objects. Sticks and Stones details various designs for the ever-popular fort (cabins, tipis, survival shelters, etc.) and also covers structures such as bridges, fences, and dams, while explaining the STEAM principles behind each. In addition to structures, there are other ideas and projects for camping and the backyard, like a fire ring (explaining the types of fires, airflow, and safety), the always useful tripod, a travois, a rock garden, and toy boats. Along the way, there are multi-leveled reading opportunities in the form of quick features on considerations like mindfulness, campfire safety, mini STEAM design challenges, and more. Sticks and Stones was named to the longlist for the 2020 AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books in the Hands-On Science Book category. The prize honors outstanding science writing and illustration for children and young adults. This book is an essential resource for every junior outdoor adventurer.

The backyard has long been a space associated with recreation and relaxation, a private patch of earth to escape to, and a springboard for the imagination. In her signature style and drawing on her personal experience as a mother, gardener, and author, Amanda Thomsen encourages kids to create kingdoms of their own making, right in their own backyards. With whimsical projects for every season and any setting, from forest to pavement, fun-seeking kids and their families will rediscover the yard as a place for inspired play, using repurposed materials and existing features of outdoor spaces. Whether they’re creating tiny gardens inhabited by action figures, weaving a secret hideaway out of a loom of twine and twigs, or setting sidewalk cracks on fire with Coffeemate, Backyard Adventure lets kids of all ages turn their yards into a place they can call their own. This publication conforms to the EPUB Accessibility specification at WCAG 2.0 Level AA.