Using Tools in Science

T. Keogh
Video Librarian
2015

This brief entry in the Science Practices series for students in K-3 offers a broad and diverse introduction to the world of tools. The program begins with a universal reference point: when a child’s toy is broken, sometimes it can be fixed with the aid of a household tool such as a screwdriver. Specific tools are also used in engineering and science. Construction tools dig holes or lift things, while robotic tools can make repairs in inaccessible places. A whole category of tools are devoted to observation: binoculars, microscopes, and telescopes, which are used to see things too small or far away. Similarly, x-ray machines, satellites, and even the Mars rover are types of tools that reveal the hidden or impossibly distant. Young viewers will also learn how tools measure size, distance, number, etc., to produce data. Featuring fine examples presented with excellent images, as well as a summary quiz, this is highly recommended. Aud: K, E, P. (T. Keogh) Video Librarian ***1/2