With the United States falling far beyond many other countries in the fields of math and science, anything that might get our kids more interested in these subjects must be welcomed with open arms. And if it can get kids interested in math and science while being fun enough to capture the imagination of “young at heart” adults…that’s all the better!
Such is the case with the Lance Akiyama book Rubber Band Engineer. This step-by-step instructional guide might teach you a thing or two about engineering, but it certainly looks like a blast to play with.
Rubber Band Engineer promises to teach its readers how to craft 19 contraptions and gadgets that range from “surprisingly simple to curiously complex.” The instructions for each of these projects are laid out in an easy-to-read format that includes both vivid color photographs and blueprint designs. Have you ever wanted to build a hydraulic-powered machine using nothing more than household items such as pencils, paper clips, and paint stirrers? Then this is definitely the book for you.
In addition to the aforementioned hydraulic machine, Rubber Band Engineer Projects include a slingshot, a crossbow, and variations of the catapult and trebuchet. The tools needed to create these functional devices are few and fairly standard. A drill, utility knife, glue gun, and pair of scissors is enough to build most of the included designs from scratch.