The Science and Technology of Ben Franklin (Build It Yourself) - Hardcover

Klepeis, Alicia

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1647410150 ISBN 13: 9781647410155

Publisher: Nomad Press, 2021

Synopsis

This STEM-based science biography explores Benjamin Franklin’s lifetime of boundless curiosity and encourages kids to imagine what they can do as inventors and scientists through hands-on projects!

Inventor. Scientist. Diplomat. Printer. Benjamin Franklin was a very curious person, which led to lots of different roles during his lifetime.

In The Science and Technology of Ben Franklin, readers ages 9 through 12 explore the life of one of colonial America’s most fascinating citizens. They discover what it might have been like to be a young person in the early eighteenth century, when work and entertainment looked much different from today. Franklin’s frequent forays into science and technology drive the story forward as kids grow more and more eager to see how Franklin solves the problems he’s confronted with. Even when Franklin’s experiments failed or his inventions flopped, he continued to take risks in order to push the limits of people’s knowledge of the world back then. His dedication to invention and experimentation gave the world new insight into electricity, heat, and much more.

Kids gain these same insights through hands-on STEM activities, essential questions, text-to-world connections, and links to online resources that encourage readers to take a closer look into Franklin’s world.

The Science and Technology of Ben Franklin is part of a set of three Build It Science Biographies that capture the curiosity of three science revolutionaries who were able to glimpse beyond the limits of human experience and make discoveries that continue to resonate today. Other titles in this set include The Science and Technology of Leonardo da Vinci and The Science and Technology of Marie Curie.

About this title

About the Authors

Alicia Z. Klepeis is the author of more than 70 nonfiction and fiction books. Her titles include Gutsy Girls Go For Science: Astronauts; The Renaissance Inventors; The Renaissance Explorers; and Explore Makerspace! With 25 Great Projects. She has also written more than 100 articles in magazines such as National Geographic Kids and FACES. She lives with her family in Hamilton, New York.

Micah Rauch is a freelance graphic designer and illustrator from the beautiful state of Montana. He received a BFA in graphic design from Montana State University in Bozeman Montana and is the illustrator of Crazy Contraptions; Build Rube Goldberg Machines that Swoop, Spin, Stack, and Swivel; Fairground Physics: Motion, Momentum, and Magnets and Kitchen Chemistry: Cool Crystals, Rockin’ Reactions, and Magical Mixtures.

Reviews

Gr 4–6—These combination biographies/experiment guides are a unique way to introduce famous scientific figures. A time line of significant events is followed by an introduction to the scientist. Details of their work are interspersed with suggested activities. Readers might design swim paddles as Ben Franklin did, build a catapult like Leonardo da Vinci, or even research medical technology like Marie Curie's X-ray vans. QR codes lead to primary sources, and suggested keywords for further internet searches are listed in the back matter. Essential questions encourage reflection on the material. "Words to Know" are defined in sidebars as well as in the glossary. The Curie title's experiments are less closely tied to her work due to its dangerous nature, but the book mentions several other famous female scientists readers might wish to know about. VERDICT An interesting way to provide readers with details of the life and work of famous scientists.

Edition details

• Publisher: Nomad Press
• Publication date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1647410150
• ISBN 13: 9781647410155
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Rauch Micah
• Number of pages: 128