Simple Machines: Wheels, Levers, and Pulleys

As I read it to my 4-year-old, I made the story a tad more fun with my own interjections. I bought the book as part of a gift for another kid and I was kind of disappointed at first, since it's a little bit of a dry read. But then, my son and his friend would start to point out when they recognized a "simple machine" in our daily lives and I realized he had absorbed it entirely. It's a great introduction to concepts and initiates problem-solving skills in kids - for example my son made a Leggo lever to help his tiny people lift blocks. It was very cool.

Decent book, a little bit young for my son. We got around to this kind of science later than most kids because we covered other topics instead. The content was accurate. It was worth the money. I have recommended it to a couple other homeschool families with children younger than mine.

Good purchase

Adler's writing creates clarity regarding what might be a difficult concept for some children. He talks to the reader to draw them in by connecting to their everyday experiences - "Have you ever played on a slide? If you have, you played on a simple machine" and by drawing on real life scenarios - "Imagine having to lift a box loaded with bowling balls." His descriptions are precise - "It's a flat surface with one end higher than the other" and his explanations are helpful - "An inclined plane makes it easier to climb up and down..." I'd recommend this for 2nd-3rd grade (even 4th), though. The illustrations make it seem more primary, but conceptually I think it's too difficult for kinder-1st.This would be a great read aloud for launching a unit on simple machines. By the end of the read aloud, students will have a general sense of how we are surrounded by simple machines. They could sketch/write in response. If you read it aloud again or asked small groups to reread, they could glean specific details about particular simple machines - including their construction, how they work and make work easier, and how they differ from each other.Missed the 5th star because there's a typo - "peddles" verb instead of "pedals" noun. Ouch.BTW - I'd recommend Adler's book Things That Float and Things That Don't for 3rd grade and up if you're teaching the concept of density.

If you teach physical science and the concepts of work/motion, this book will compliment your teaching. Simple Machines: Wheels, Levers, and Pulleys would make for an informative read aloud for grades K-2 but is best used in an upper elementary classroom or middle school science class. The illustrations tell their own story of two boys, a parent and cat that go about their daily life and the encounters they have with wheels, levers and pulleys. The text however is a sound teaching tool.• The vocabulary: wedge, incline plane/ramp, lever, friction, wheel and axle, gears and pulleys are explained in practical ways.• Examples that are used come from encounters most students would have in their everyday lives. Leading these examples to ones students could try in the classroom.• The labels added to the illustrations explain how force can change directions. Giving students a concrete visual to understand each concept.I can’t wait to share this book with the third and eighth grade teams of teachers and in our district that teach these concepts. Using this book is another way to combine literacy and the content areas. 5 stars!

Why I liked this book- This is a rather cool nonfiction book. It shows you everyday examples of the simple machines, and how they work. For example, did you know that our teeth are wedges, and that a mountain road can be an inclined plane? There are also really nice illustrations that show what is going on clearly. The book clearly explains simple machines in a kid-friendly way. This book is a great read-aloud for young kids. I really love this book, and would recommend it for a class project.*NOTE* I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Great for teaching STEM concepts to children. The book CAN be wordy BUT it is so worth it to see your young children recognize pulleys, levers, and ramps. Also the typos from the first edition have been corrected! Yea!

While this book has some great, well-explained content, I was really disappointed to notice (after purchasing it) that of the 8 distinct characters shown, only 1 is female (and she only appears once and is background - uninvolved in the storyline, she is serving food). Good job reinforcing that STEM is for boys only!

This is a great book to support understanding of simple machines!