Teresa Bateman, Brigadoon Elementary School, Federal Way, WA
School Library Journal
September 2007
Gr 3-5 - The six major types of simple machines -- levers, inclined planes, wedges, screws, wheel and axle, and pulleys -- and the many ways in which they are used in our daily lives are explained and demonstrated in this live-action production. Important concepts, such as work and mechanical advantage, are defined at the beginning of the film and then applied throughout the program. The narrator presents the information in a well-paced, easy-to-understand manner. Along the way, there are chances for viewer interaction as simple questions are asked, then answered. The film ends with a summary and a five-question fill-in-the-blanks quiz to test comprehension. This excellent introduction to a basic science concept will fit nicely into any science curriculum dealing with simple machines.