Zoom in on Engineering

In 1956, the United States celebrated the opening of its first interstate highway. Since then, the country has been connected from one end to the other with a matrix of highways and superhighways. This compelling book introduces readers to the engineering feat of building the superhighways that have allowed us to live more connected lives. Readers will learn about the fascinating challenges that engineers face when building superhighways over waterways and roads, underground, and with the latest safety features. A follow-up activity provides students with a road map and encourages them to write directions from one city to another.

When we flick on a lamp switch, we rarely think of the science and engineering behind the light. This straightforward and accessible text informs readers about the interconnected network that electricity takes as it moves from suppliers to users. From power stations and voltage switches to the power lines that lead to our homes, readers will gain a greater understanding of the energy we use every day. A follow-up activity utilizes a maze that allows readers to trace the correct path of electricity through a power grid.

We take it for granted every day, but clean water is one of the most important resources we have. This behind-the-scenes look at where our water comes from and where it goes after we use it gives readers a fascinating look at how our cities and towns are structured. Readers will be given a stimulating look at our sewage systems and wastewater treatment plants, which track the water through the system. A follow-up activity encourages readers to track their water usage for a week to emphasize the importance of clean water.

Through simple text and informative photos, readers will engage with this cornerstone of transit infrastructure. Each chapter will focus on a new aspect of tunnels, such as the history of their invention, technological advances in their materials and designs, and examples of their use both in ordinary life and extraordinary situations. A follow-up activity challenges readers to put into practice what they have learned.

Through simple text and informative photos, readers will delve into one of the most important, ubiquitous, and ever-changing technologies of the past two centuries: the train. Students will explore fundamental engineering principles through a look at unique rail networks from all over the world and will place that information in context as they learn about the important connection between technology and society. Follow-up activities will challenge students to put that knowledge to use.

Young readers will make important text-to-world connections exploring engineering concepts through the familiar structures of bridges. Simple text and informative photos engage readers as they learn about the many different kinds of bridges, their unique structures and functions, their history, and their use in the modern world. Follow-up activities will challenge students to use the mathematical and technological principles of real engineers in their own classrooms.