Science 3 - Energy Books

"Biggest, Strongest, Fastest" by Steve Jenkins is an informative and visually stunning children's book that showcases the extraordinary attributes of various animals. Through precise cut-paper illustrations and engaging facts, Jenkins highlights record-breaking animals in the natural world, from the smallest to the largest, the fastest to the slowest. This book not only captivates young readers with its vivid depictions but also educates them about the wonders of biology and the diversity of life on Earth.

YouTube (Read Aloud): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OL_uDonx5Ik

Internet Archive Library: https://archive.org/details/andeveryoneshout0000llew

"Daisy's Wild Ride" by Bob Graham is a children's book that delves into the concept of motion through a whimsical story. In this adventure, readers follow Jane as she learns about motion by sending her pet pig, Daisy, on a thrilling cart ride that comes to an unexpected halt with a rock and a mud puddle. Though this book might be considered a little juvenile for grade three, it really does give a clear example of Newton's First Law (one of the knowledge outcomes in the Alberta curriculum).

Internet Archive Library: https://archive.org/details/daisyswildride0000grah

"Forces" by Andi Diehn is part of the 'Explore Physical Science' series, designed to introduce young readers to the fundamental concepts of forces in the physical world. Through engaging text and vibrant illustrations, Diehn explains how forces like gravity, friction, and magnetism work to move objects around us every day. The book simplifies these complex scientific concepts into understandable terms, accompanied by real-world examples and interactive experiments that encourage children to observe and experiment with forces in their own surroundings. It's an excellent resource for budding scientists, making the invisible forces that shape our world visible and understandable.

YouTube (Read Aloud): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1SNe7P_Gzw

"Forces Make Things Move" by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley is a captivating children's book that simplifies the concept of forces for young readers. It explores how everything around us moves, from cars on the road to balls thrown in the air, through the lens of forces such as pushes and pulls. Through clear language and engaging examples, Bradley makes complex scientific ideas accessible and interesting to children. The book encourages curiosity about the physical world and lays the foundation for understanding the basic principles of physics, including an introduction to Newton's laws of motion.

YouTube (Read Aloud): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Vkfu97vyDs

Internet Archive Library: https://archive.org/details/forcesmakethings0000brad

"Isaac Newton and the Laws of Motion" by Andrea Gianopoulos presents the story of Isaac Newton and his discovery of the laws of motion in an engaging graphic novel format. This book simplifies complex scientific concepts for young readers, blending historical facts with compelling illustrations to bring Newton's achievements to life. It's an excellent introduction to one of science's most influential figures, making his groundbreaking work accessible and inspiring to children interested in physics and the history of science. While Newton's history makes up the majority of Chapters One and Two, if looking just for a few pages that really get into the behaviour of forces, Chapter Three does exactly that.

Internet Archive Library: https://archive.org/details/isaacnewtonlawso0000gian

"Katy and the Big Snow" by Virginia Lee Burton is a classic children's book that follows the story of Katy, a red crawler tractor who works for the Highway Department of the city of Geoppolis. When a massive snowstorm hits the city, Katy's determination and perseverance are put to the test as she becomes the only one capable of plowing the roads and making them passable again. This engaging tale not only showcases the themes of helpfulness and resilience but also introduces children to the concepts of the forces involved in snow removal (something all Albertan students should be familiar with, firsthand) as Katy battles through the snow, clearing the way for the community.

YouTube (Read Aloud): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJowya97m2Y

Internet Archive Library: https://archive.org/details/katybigsnow00virg

"Move It! Motion, Forces and You" by Adrienne Mason is an informative and interactive book aimed at young readers, focusing on the science of motion and the forces that affect it. The book breaks down complex scientific principles into understandable concepts through engaging explanations, vivid illustrations, and real-world examples. It invites children to explore how and why things move by introducing them to basic physics, including Newton's laws of motion, through activities and simple experiments. This approach not only educates but also inspires kids to observe and question the physical world around them, making it a valuable educational resource.

YouTube (Read Aloud): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9Z46AsujL4

"Stop and Go, Fast and Slow: Moving Objects in Different Ways" is an engaging children's book that introduces young readers to the concepts of motion and speed in an accessible and fun way. Through a series of vivid illustrations and simple, relatable examples, the book explores how different objects move, including the ways they can start and stop, and how they can move quickly or slowly. This book is designed to spark curiosity about the physical world and to encourage children to observe and think about the movement of objects in their daily lives. It's an excellent resource for introducing basic physics concepts to early learners, making it a valuable addition to any young scientist's library.

YouTube (Read Aloud): https://youtu.be/Q4uHeWqwZwk?si=BegkIRp94BpzwAbq&t=62

Internet Archive Library: https://archive.org/details/stopgofastslowmo0000silv

"Stuck" by Oliver Jeffers is a humorous and imaginative tale about a boy named Floyd whose kite gets stuck in a tree. In his attempts to dislodge the kite, Floyd ends up throwing an increasingly absurd array of objects into the tree, each getting stuck as well (and thereby highlighting Newton's First Law). This whimsical story not only entertains with its creative solutions and unexpected outcomes but also subtly explores the concepts of problem-solving, cause and effect, and the physics of how objects interact when they are thrown or stuck.

YouTube (Animated): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdloV_zl3SM

YouTube (Read Aloud): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbjgDn0rqFg

Internet Archive Library (only available for people with print disabilities): https://archive.org/details/stuck0000oliv

"Explore...Simple Machines!" is an informative and interactive children's book that dives into the world of the six basic simple machines: the lever, wheel and axle, pulley, inclined plane, screw, and wedge. Through detailed explanations, vibrant illustrations, and hands-on activities, this book makes learning about these fundamental concepts of physics engaging and accessible for young readers. It encourages exploration and critical thinking by showing how these machines are used in everyday life to make work easier. Perfect for budding engineers and scientists, the book fosters a deeper understanding of how simple machines impact the world around us, promoting curiosity and a love for learning about physics.

Internet Archive Library: https://archive.org/details/exploresimplemac0000yasu

"How Do You Lift a Lion?" by Robert E. Wells is an engaging and educational children's book that introduces the concepts of simple machines—such as levers, wheels, and pulleys—to young readers through whimsical scenarios involving animals. By posing and answering questions like the titular one, Wells explains how these basic principles of physics can be used to solve seemingly complex problems in easy-to-understand ways. The book combines fun illustrations with scientific facts, making it an enjoyable read for children curious about how things work in the world around them.

YouTube (Read Aloud): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJzIs12ka5A

Internet Archive Library (only available for people with print disabilities): https://archive.org/details/stuck0000oliv

The five books in this series by Tim Miller introduce students to a collection of activities that they can work on in a makerspace to better understand some of the simple machines. Though the Alberta curriculum specifies outcomes on the understanding of a lever, wheel, and inclines plane, all of these books help to have students better understand the concept of simple machines.

Internet Archive Library (Inclined Planes in my Makerspace): https://archive.org/details/inclinedplanesin0000mill

Internet Archive Library (Levers in my Makerspace): https://archive.org/details/leversinmymakers0000mill

Internet Archive Library (Pulleys in my Makerspace): https://archive.org/details/pulleysinmymaker0000mill

Internet Archive Library (Screws in my Makerspace): https://archive.org/details/screwsinmymakers0000mill

Internet Archive Library (Wedges in my Makerspace): https://archive.org/details/wedgesinmymakers0000mill

"The Kids' Book of Simple Machines: Cool Projects & Activities That Make Science Fun!" by Kelly Doudna is an interactive and educational book that makes learning about simple machines engaging for children. It covers the six basic simple machines — lever, wheel and axle, pulley, inclined plane, screw, and wedge — through a series of fun, hands-on projects and activities. By providing clear explanations, easy-to-follow instructions, and lively illustrations, Doudna helps young readers understand the principles of physics that govern how things work in their everyday world, encouraging curiosity and a love for science. It should be noted that there are some differences between the two versions, with slightly different activities, but the newer version is likely the one to use (if in doubt).

Internet Archive Library (older version): https://archive.org/details/kidsbookofsimple0000doud

Internet Archive Library (newer version): https://archive.org/details/kidsbookofsimple0000doud_a0n7

"The Lego Technic Idea Book: Simple Machines" by Yoshihito Isogawa is a visually driven exploration of building simple machines using LEGO Technic parts. This book serves as an innovative guide that showcases how to create models of simple machines such as gears, levers, pulleys, and wheels and axles, using LEGO. Through clear, color photographs and minimal text, Isogawa inspires readers to experiment with their own designs, teaching fundamental mechanical principles in a hands-on, engaging way. Ideal for LEGO enthusiasts and budding engineers alike, it encourages creativity and problem-solving through playful learning.

Internet Archive Library: https://archive.org/details/simplemachines0000isog

"Mighty Machines" by Shar Levine and Leslie Johnstone is an educational children's book that explores the fascinating world of machines and how they work. It delves into various types of machinery, from simple tools to complex vehicles, explaining their functions and the principles behind their operation in a way that is accessible and engaging for young readers. Through vibrant illustrations and clear, concise text, Levine and Johnstone introduce children to the science and technology that power the machines all around us, sparking curiosity and a deeper understanding of engineering concepts.

Internet Archive Library: https://archive.org/details/mightymachines0000levi

In this series of books, with each book focusing on a specific simple machine, the reader is introduced to a simple machine through a collection of short chapters. Each chapter looks at a specific component of that simple machine, and upon reading all chapters in each book, the reader has a good understanding of how each simple machine works to make work easier for humans.

Internet Archive Library (Inclined Planes): https://archive.org/details/putinclinedplane0000walk

Internet Archive Library (Levers): https://archive.org/details/levers0000walk_o3f1

Internet Archive Library (Pulleys): https://archive.org/details/putpulleystotest0000walk

Internet Archive Library (Wedges): https://archive.org/details/putwedgestotest0000walk

Internet Archive Library (Wheel and Axle): https://archive.org/details/putwheelsaxlesto0000walk

"You Wouldn't Want to Live Without Simple Machines!" is a part of the engaging and educational "You Wouldn't Want to..." series, focusing on the importance of simple machines in our daily lives. Through humorous illustrations and light-hearted yet informative text, this book takes readers on a journey through history to explore how levers, wheels and axles, pulleys, inclined planes, screws, and wedges have made life easier and more efficient for humans. It highlights the inventive ways people have used these machines throughout history and demonstrates their relevance in modern times. This book not only educates but also entertains, making it a captivating read for children curious about the science and history behind everyday objects.