Books in How it Works series

Can you imagine having to drive long distances in a car, train, or bus? Airplane travel changed all that, making travel much quicker, easier, and less stressful. This book addresses the four factors that make it possible for an airplane to fly: weight, lift, thrust, and drag, and details what each of these things means to maintain the safety of the passengers who fly on the over 64 million flights a year in the United States. So, buckle up and enjoy your flight in this wonderful book about airplanes! This book will allow students to ask questions, make observations, and gather information about a situation people want to change to define a simple problem that can be solved through the development of a new or improved object or tool.

Have you ever thought about what really happens when you flush a toilet? In this book, students will learn all about this quirky subject and the different parts of this simple machine. From the bowl, the tank, the handle, and stopper, students will learn all about something we all do on a daily basis but don’t really ever think about. So, next time you flush, you’ll know exactly what happens! This book will allow students to develop a simple sketch, drawing, or physical model to illustrate how the shape of an object helps it function as needed to solve a given problem.

An escalator is a moving staircase with steps that go up or down. This book discusses how an escalator if based off a conveyor system, moving objects up and down using gears and chains that are connected to the steps, flattening them out at the top and bottom so people can easily get on. This form of transportation has made it more convenient to go from one floor to another without walking up flights of stairs. So, next time you have a chance to ride an escalator, hold on to the handrails and get a free moving staircase ride! This book will allow students to analyze data to determine if a design solution works as intended to change the speed or direction of an object with a push or a pull.

How can we tell one lighthouse from another? What does a lighthouse keeper do? Where are the most unusual lighthouses in the world? Depart on an enchanting voyage with the school children in this book to discover the answers to these questions along with other fascinating facts about lighthouses and how they work. A charming journey through the science and history of lighthouses around the world.

What kind of mouse has no ears, nose, or feet? A computer mouse! This book teaches students how a mouse and a computer work together. When you move your mouse, the cursor on your screen moves, making it quicker and easier to perform tasks on your computer. All the components of a computer mouse are outlined and give a better understanding of this important and useful computer tool. And, they don’t squeak or have fur! This book will allow students to make observations and/or measurements of an object’s motion to provide evidence that a pattern can be used to predict future motion.