Books in Core Concepts series

Have you ever ridden a Ferris wheel? You go up, up, up and can see for miles! But when the inventor of the Ferris wheel, George Ferris, first pitched the idea, everyone thought he was crazy. A 250-foot bicycle wheel that goes around and around and carries people in train cars? Can't be done, they said. But George proved them wrong. Read about how George's hard work, courage, and imagination created one of the most famous fair rides today.George Ferris, What a Wheel covers the concepts Imagination and Problem Solving.

This title will bring to life any student bored with this essential subject dealing with the nonmetals on the periodic table. Readers will be fascinated by the "Chemistry in Action" fact boxes about how nonmetals work in real life, such as how hydrogen is used in car fuel cells, how carbon is what diamonds are made of, and how carbon dating is used to determine the age of substances. The vivid imagery and illustrations will further entice readers along with a biography section profiling Henry Cavendish, discoverer of hydrogen.

Bizz and Buzz are two bees who want to make honey buns. So, they ask their friend Bear for his recipe. Although the directions seem simple, Bizz and Buzz make mistake after mistake, like finding a little flower instead of adding a little flour. What will bee-come of the honey buns?Bizz and Buzz Make Honey Buns covers the concepts Friendship and Problem Solving.

This is an in-depth, information-rich, curriculum-centered examination of and introduction to the 9 elements that are classified as metals and metalloids. A lively discussion of their properties, atomic structure, and behavior when interacting with other elements makes up the core of the text, with repeated reference to the Periodic Table. Included in the discussion are alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, Group 3 metals, tin and lead, transition metals, and metalloids (having properties of both metals and nonmetals), and the rich history behind their discovery, classification, and practical uses. This text strongly supports Common Core Standards for the reading of scientific and technical texts and accounts, and furnishes ample opportunities to summarize, cite evidence, and analyze connections between ideas, individuals, and events.

Understanding the basics of matter is a core piece of the science curriculum. This guide to matter is an interesting, colorful introduction to these concepts in the field of science, including bright photos, fun facts, and basic experiments that allow readers to have an informative and complete hands-on learning experience. Biographical information on some of the great minds in this field of science is also included, adding a detailed timeline and an interesting and engaging historical element to the text.

The study of the states of matter is one that we take for granted every day, when we cook, when we breathe, when we use technology. This volume explores the basics of states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas. It delves into the history of some of the great minds that have contributed to the modern understanding of matter and how it is being used today in our daily lives. A biographical chapter and timeline is included to help round out the text and capture the human side of science.

Page after page, this title proves that the power of attraction is undeniable. Readers move beyond a simple fascination with the power of magnets to a clear understanding of the science behind magnetics. Natural magnets, Earth's magnetic field, and the ties between electricity and magnetics are all featured, in addition to the creation and use of magnets in commercial and everyday applications. Information about the life and work of physicist Joseph Henry, a leading electromagnetics pioneer, and a timeline of important dates in the field are also included.

Blast off and explore the star of our solar system—the Sun!Billions of stars fill the universe. But for humans, the most important star is the one closest to Earth—the Sun. From vitamin D to solar energy, the Sun provides the power necessary to sustain life on our planet. And as the center of our solar system, the strong gravitational pull from this ball of burning gas keeps all the planets in orbit. Discover the significance of the Sun and its brilliant blaze in this fascinating book!

Modern life makes extensive use of electronics. On a daily basis, we use smartphones, computers, and TVs in the home and robots in industry and commerce. This title outlines the development of electronics, from early vacuum tubes to todays microchips. It explains how semiconductors work at the atomic level and how they are made into solid-state devices essential for the Internet and other applications. A biographical chapter on J. J. Thomson, who discovered the electron (the key to electronics), rounds out the text. Science projects readers can try at home illustrate principles of physics.