Repurpose It: Invent New Uses for Old Stuff

by Tammy Enz

Overview

Create amazing inventions and help the environment at the same time. In Repurpose It, you’ll invent a solar still, a bug robot, a textbook safe, and many other resourceful contraptions. When it comes to inventing, your imagination has no limits!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781429679831
Publisher:	Capstone
Publication date:	01/01/2012
Series:	Invent It Series
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 7.40(h) x 0.10(d)
Lexile:	IG750L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 11 Years

About the Author

Tammy Enz holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a master’s degree in journalism and mass communications. She teaches at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and has written dozens of books on science and engineering topics for young people.

Editorial Reviews

It’s fun, it’s free, and it’s green!” This title in the Invent It series focuses on using basic engineering skills – and your own imaginations – to repurpose garbage. After leading readers through the “Six Steps of Inventing,” the book offers step-by-step numbered instructions for seven do-it-yourself projects. What to do with that old cell phone lying around? You can use the vibrating motor to make a small buglike robot. Plastic shopping bags may transform into a colorful rain poncho, while out-of-date textbooks serve as a hollowed-out hiding place for money and other valuables. These are not the simplest projects, and they require adult supervision at times, as well as careful measurement. While some reconfigurations might seem random (like turning plastic eight-pack soda rings into a lawn chair seat), they can serve as jumping-off points for further projects. In fact, additional ideas are provided throughout – for instance, in the case of the poncho, shopping bags can also be recycled into a school bag or tent (no instructions provided). The projects will likely fire up imaginations and encourage eco responsibility.

Booklist

Each title in this series begins with a six step process for the budding engineer to follow; seven or eight projects follow the steps. While the statement of engineering principles is a positive, few middle school students will be able to state them without adult guidance. Full-color photos take the reader through the “create” step. The “improve” step lends itself to additional scientific or engineering processes and is a highlight of the series.

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