National Science Teachers Association Recommends
“. . . Skyscrapers would make an excellent resource for the history or science teacher desiring to try a project based learning (PBL) unit. With its timeline, glossary, and interesting prose, the teacher could challenge students with the question, 'Would a skyscraper make a good school?’ In fact, this book would make a good springboard for a number of short engineering units. Skyscrapers! is a terrific book, especially for elementary teachers looking for ideas to inject more engineering into their classroom.”
School Library Journal
“Large font and an open layout make this title accessible to reluctant readers . . . A useful title to supplement lessons on architecture, mathematics, or physics for classroom teachers or homeschoolers, and it’s an appealing initiation to the subject.”
Kristine E. Barnes, PE, Structural Engineer
“Skyscrapers is a fantastic introduction to the world of civil/structural engineering and the history of some really big projects and tall buildings. The projects help reinforce ideas and give kids a wonderful hands-on learning experience.”
Pam Evans, 6th Grade Teacher, Jefferson Elementary School
“This wonderful book is written in easy-to-understand terms for those of us who are not engineers. The activities and experiments can easily be done in the classroom with inexpensive supplies.”
Kenton D. Wesby, Art Specialist & STEAM Educator, SECME Master Teacher
“This book is awesome. Skyscrapers effectively navigates the basic principles of STEM, at the same time making connections with language arts, social studies, and visual arts. A must have for any teachers’ professional library.”
Glenn Wiggins, Ph.D., AIA, Dean, College of Architecture, Design, and Construction Management, Wentworth Institute of Technology
“Skyscrapers does a wonderful job introducing young minds to the wonders and challenges of high-rise building design and the underlying engineering, making complex engineering concepts understandable. Outstanding.”
Over centuries and across cultures people have defied gravity in a quest to build the tallest, grandest structures imaginable. Skyscrapers: Investigate Feats of Engineering with 25 Projects invites children ages 9 and up to explore the innovation and physical science behind these towering structures. Trivia and fun facts illustrate engineering ingenuity and achievements from the ancient pyramids to the Empire State Building. Readers will develop an understanding of how our modern, sophisticated building techniques and materials evolved over time.
Activities and projects encourage children to explore the engineering design process. They will engage in hands-on explorations of wind, test Newton’s laws of motion, and experiment with the strength of different shapes. In the process they will learn about gravity, inertia, oscillation, and static electricity. Using various materials and engaging in trial and error, readers will construct their own towers and skyscrapers. Skyscrapers meets common core state standards in language arts for reading informational text and literary nonfiction and is aligned with Next Generation Science Standards. Guided Reading Levels and Lexile measurements indicate grade level and text complexity.
