Culture Encyclopedia Design by Fiona MacDonald, 2003, Mason Crest
You can travel through time learning about some of the earliest designs right up to those of the present. See how pottery and tools were first designed. Look at castles and skyscrapers. Notice how designs in fashion, food, and furnishings have changed over the decades. Simple designs for stirrups and scissors to complicated designs for stealth bombers and space suits are part of this trip through design history.
A Book about Design: Complicated Doesn’t Make it Good by Mark Gonyea, 2005, Henry Holt
Designing buildings, bridges, parks, and even cars can be complicated. But the basics of design don‘t have to be. Learn how simple designs begin with shapes, size and color. See how changing any or all of these three alters the whole design. Make and modify your own designs by following these easy steps and illustrations.
Environmental Technology by Andrew Solway, 2009, Black Rabbit Books
Going Green is more than just a phrase. It‘s something we all can do to help protect our environment. There are many ways to improve buildings, limit waste, and use new energy sources. Technology specifically designed to do these things is called environmental technology. Can you help by riding a bamboo bicycle or by eating packaging made from foods or by wearing solar-powered clothing?
Double Helix: The Quest to Uncover the Structure of DNA by Glen Phelan, 2006, National Geographic
DNA is often referred to as ―the secret of life. But, how was that secret discovered? Who discovered it? What kinds of special awards did they receive for the discovery? Why is DNA so important? Will DNA lead to new cures for diseases? How does the design of your DNA make you unique? Perhaps DNA holds a special secret for your life.
Do you like to ride roller coasters? Do you like to do math? Well, they go together! Engineers use math to design roller coasters and to make sure they operate safely. Coaster designers add twists, turns, loops, and tunnels to make the ride more exciting. The Big Dipper in Blackpool, UK is the oldest roller coaster. Learn which roller coaster is the highest or the fastest. Use the math challenges in this book to design your own roller coaster. You might even make your own computer-generated roller coaster model.
A riddle: What has a kicktail, nose, deck, and wheels? A skateboard. Skateboards were invented in America in the 1940s, before most of you were born. The design and production of skateboards have improved so that now boards are much lighter and faster. Even if you‘re not a skateboarder, you might try your hand at designing them. Or, you could make a graphic design that you might put on the bottom of a skateboard.
Pinewood Derby Designs & Patterns by Troy Thorne, 2007, Fox Chapel Publishing
i10DBNRwYe!Dfg~~_7.JPG?set_id=89040003C1)
You don‘t have to be a NASCAR driver to design a race car. Pinewood derby cars are much smaller and anyone can race them. Learn about types of wood, axles, wheels, and weights for these miniature racing cars. Designs and patterns are included for the simplest to the super models. You can scan and print the decal art or design your own. Get ready to roll!
Buildings in Disguise by Joan Marie Arbogast, 2004, Boyds Mills Press
Have you ever been inside a duck, a dog, or an elephant? How about a teapot or a milk bottle? All of these and more are actual buildings throughout the United States. Do you have one of these famous landmark buildings in your state? Locate all these buildings on your US map. Learn about the author from her interview in this issue. Find out how kids like you are making their own mimetic architectural designs.
Many buildings around the world are beautiful but it‘s what‘s inside that makes them unique. In Egypt take a look inside the tomb of King Tut. Go through a horseshoe-shaped gate to find a whole city in Spain. See the giant sails or seashells that hold the Opera House in Sydney, Australia. Find an aquarium full of fish in the ship-shaped building in Atlanta, Georgia. Now, choose something special and decide how you would design a building around it.
Stadiums by Chris Oxlade, 2006, Heinemann Library.
Some stadiums seat more than 100,000 people at one time. Special roof designs allow for stadiums to be used in all kinds of weather. Sometimes stadiums are used for natural disasters. People stayed in the Louisiana Superdome during Hurricane Katrina before its roof blew off. Structural engineers design these massive buildings. If you want to design something big; try a stadium.
The Chunnel: The Building of a 200-Year-Old Dream by Jil Fine, 2004, Scholastic
Use a map to find the channel between England and France. The Chunnel is a tunnel under the English Channel that connects England and France. Channel + tunnel = chunnel! Most of the early tunnel designs didn‘t work. After many years of building, the Chunnel officially opened in 1994. Find out how fast trains travel through the Chunnel today.
For designs that jump right out at you, try paper engineering or pop-up technology. Folds, angles, wheels, and pull-tabs are all used in these pop-up examples. Gather your heavy paper, scissors, glue, and a few other tools and materials to begin your own pop-up creations. Start with the easy designs and read the hints that go with each model.
Pick up your pencils, paints, paper, and scissors. From the beginning to the end of this book, you can make your own unique designs. Look through the artist‘s eyes at various masterpieces. Follow the techniques used by such artists as da Vinci, Matisse, and O‘Keeffe. Use the elements of design to try projects that vary from least to most challenging.
Can you picture a career that requires you to play as many video games as you can? What an exciting possibility! But you‘ll also need to be really good in English and math if you want to be a video game designer. Find out about the elements of game design and how to become a game developer. See how to start to design sets and characters for your own video game.
Imagination is a wonderful thing. You‘ve probably had imaginary friends and even played imaginary games. What would it be like to have a job of imagining and creating new ideas? That‘s what the Imagineers have done for years. They worked to design Disneyland in California, Disney World in Florida, and other theme parks around the world. Use a map to find the countries that have Disney theme parks. Imagine yourself working with the team of Disney‘s Imagineers!
Member Comments