Junk Drawer Engineering: 25 Construction Challenges That Don’t Cost a Thing

I like this book. The guy is funny in the introduction. Engineers solve problems with science. The projects are good.

For “Zipline Madness,” I used a cup and attached it to a pulley with a toothpick and two paperclips. I added rocks for weights. I raced my mom. She used a Lego polar bear in a cup attached by rubber bands. It hung on the string by a paperclip in a hook shape. I won by a lot! I thought a lot of the activity. I changed my design and tested it before the race. The activity was fun! I had everything I needed in my house. I’d like to do this challenge again.

For “Bounce With Me,” I used beanbags for the weight. I made a super-bungee! My guy stayed in the cup sometimes. I liked this activity. It was fun.

I made a newspaper table once. It held maybe four books up. I’ve done a few of the experiments before.

I didn’t have a mint container or soup cans to do the “Mint Can Challenge.” I also didn’t have the cups for the “Windmill Challenge.” It probably wouldn’t be that hard to get things I’m missing.

I’d like to do all of the projects with friends. It’s educational and fun. I think this book would be good in schools and home-schools. There’s a science explanation at the end of each experiment. Some pictures I wouldn’t be able to understand without the other pictures.