Snowball Launchers, Giant-Pumpkin Growers, and Other Cool Contraptions »

One look at any of these gadgets you can make, and your friends will call you a mechanical genius—or a mad scientist! Build a rocket-propelled toy car or a secret place to hide your treasures from snooping little kids. Grow a pumpkin so big, even an adult can’t lift it. Make an automatic dog feeder, a mechanical snowball thrower, or some storm-predicting bells. All fifteen “Amazing Stuff” projects produce toys that are more than playthings. Yet all you need are some pieces of wood, nails, oatmeal boxes, jar lids, and Popsicle sticks. And you just use a hammer, screwdriver, and other tools from around the house—plus a couple of cheap electric motors you can buy at any electronics store.  

Steven EngelfriedCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information. - School Library Journal

Gr 5 8
The 20 projects in this collection range from a simple "Heartbeat Monitor" to a fairly complex "Moth-Bot," a wheeled vehicle that moves toward light with the flick of a switch. Most have strong kid appeal, though the "Snowball Launcher" and "Super-Duper Water Shooter" are likely to generate more interest than the "Drinking-Straw Dispenser." Energetic writing makes all of the projects sound intriguing, and the process of creating working gadgets can be as much fun as the end result. Instructions are written in an engaging, conversational tone, with background information about concepts such as gravity and electricity woven into the text. The directions are fairly easy to follow, although the complexity of some of the later "contraptions" will require especially careful attention and possibly adult consultation. Diagrams are also helpful; several steps are often combined in a single illustration, but clear and consistent labeling makes them effective. Most of the projects use household materials, along with basic craft or electronic supplies. The last seven involve electricity; they are more complex and require more purchased items, such as DC motors and transistors. Fifteen of the projects have a clearly highlighted "Adult Supervision Required" note, mainly for use of drills, saws, or other sharp tools. This is a good resource for students looking for out-of-the-ordinary science projects and for curious and creative kids who just want to make something fun and different.