April 1, 2021
Gr 2-4-The four open-structured engineering challenges in each of these well-designed books are framed in terms of a demand (an aircraft that flies 15 feet) and a limit (build it in 60 minutes). This cut-to-the-chase tasking not only allows for a high degree of experimentation and creativity, but also more closely resembles the way that real-world challenges present themselves. Learning to analyze problems in these terms is a powerful tool in any of the creative or engineering fields covered by these books-and beyond. Examples of solutions to each challenge are provided, with sufficient photos and captions that they could be reproduced, but readers are encouraged to work to get it done their way. VERDICT Readers can learn how tasks are defined and think their way around them in these appealing books.
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