Although not spending as much time in our wonderful library with #bestteachingpartnerever, the use of literature to inspire and motivate students to ‘have a go’ at technology activities is still #1 in my eyes!
Following on from previous posts on Books to Inspire Creating with Technology, Technology Themed Picture Books, Bringing Books to Life with AR, Books to Inspire Coding & Robotics, Books for Coding and Books for a Makerspace
It is time to add more recent titles:
Hello Ruby Series
The first book in the series on Coding was a huge hit with my younger students a few years back. The new books are now giving support to teachers with some fun activities to do from the books and the website. Plenty of practical and hands-on activities.
Hello Ruby: Journey inside a Computer
What exactly is a computer? How does it work? What is it made of? In Ruby’s world anything is possible if you put your mind to it…..even fixing her dad’s broken computer! Ruby, with her friends, journey through the insides of a computer in search of the missing cursor. From bits and logic gates to computer hardware, Ruby and readers will learn the basic elements of the machines that power our world.
Hello Ruby: Expedition to the Internet.
What exactly is the Internet? Is it a cloud? A network of wires? How does the information travel online? Building the internet out of snow Ruby knows you need to understand how things work and so the story is a quest to build the most amazing Snow Internet ever, by learning real life facts in doing so!
Nick and Tesla’s Super-Cyborg Gadget Glove: A Mystery with a Blinking, Beeping, Voice-Recording Gadget Glove You Can Build Yourself
Einstein is running amok! Darwin is losing his head! The science museum in Half Moon Bay is in big trouble because its robotic replicas of history’s greatest scientists keep going kablooey! As 11-year-old amateur inventors Nick and Tesla Holt try to uncover the cause, they’ll need to keep adding all-new gadgets to their latest creation, a customized super-cyborg glove. Follow the action, and then follow the illustrated instructions to build your own gadget glove with four incredible functions: LED signal light, emergency alarm, sound recorder, and UV secret-message revealer!
Rosie Revere and the Raucous Riveters
Rosie Revere is no stranger to flops and fails, kerfuffles and catastrophes. After all, engineering is all about perseverance! But this time, Rosie has a really important project to tackle—one that feels much bigger than herself.Rosie’s beloved Aunt Rose and her friends, the Raucous Riveters—a group of fun-loving gals who built airplanes during World War II—need help inventing something new. And Rosie is just the engineer for the job!
After one flop . . . then another . . . and another . . . Rosie starts to lose hope. But thanks to some help from her fellow Questioneers Iggy Peck and Ada Twist, Rosie gets the job done. And, along with the Riveters, she rediscovers the meaning of home.
Secret Coders: Monsters & Modules
From graphic novel superstar (and former computer programming teacher) and bestselling author Gene Luen Yang, Secret Coders: Monsters & Modules is the sixth and final volume in a wildly entertaining series that combines logic puzzles and basic coding instruction with a page-turning mystery plot!
The Coders always knew their programming skills would take them far, but they never guessed they would take them to another dimension! Or to be accurate, one dimension less—to save humanity, Hopper, Eni, and Josh must travel to Flatland, a dangerous two-dimensional world ruled by polygons. If they can return home safely with a turtle of light, they might just stand a chance in their final showdown with Dr. One-Zero!
Rubber Band Engineer
Lance Akiyama has written a number of books to engage ‘makers’ in engineering activities. Lance is the Science Curriculum Manager for Galileo Learning (STEAM camps for Pre-K to 8th grade), for which he designs STEAM-based lessons and projects for K-8 students. He has been developing hands-on engineering projects for kids since 2011. This book has 10 projects which would suit upper primary and lower secondary students! Plenty of ideas and instructions.
Rubber Band Engineer by Lance Akiyama is a step-by-step guide that will teach readers to create their very own rubber band launchers and gadgets. With suggestions for alternative designs and materials, creativity is encouraged. Make 10 projects that fly, shoot far, fly high and deliver amazing results using rubber bands, paper clips and paddle pop sticks.
Engineering: The Riveting World of Buildings and Machines
How does a 3D printer work? What stops a skyscraper from falling over? Where does a smart phone store information? Welcome to the world of engineering! Discover how the familiar machines and buildings in today’s world are constructed, and how they function. How do scientists choose the right materials for the right job? Which scientific principles lie behind each machine or structure?
After spending a term working with Year 7 students on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, I loved some of the books to get the discussions going!
Artificial Intelligence for Kids (Toddlers)
What is artificial, and what is intelligence?
From the Tinker Toddlers series, Artificial Intelligence for Kids is a great way to introduce basic concepts about the meaning of intelligence and also the different types of artificial intelligence. The vibrant, beautiful, and visually stimulating illustrations with easy to understand text encourage the child’s sense of wonder and curiosity, with follow up activities.
How can engineers teach a robot to think? Will machines ever be smarter than humans? With simple text, diagrams, comic strip stories and stunning photographs, this introduction to AI uncovers how intelligent machines can explore space, play games, create works of art, help surgeons and the armed forces, and lots more. Perfect for reluctant readers.
Artificial Intelligence for Kids
To help kids get up to speed, Michael Milford said the earlier they get started, the better. He has aimed his guide at a primary school audience, although he has also received positive comments from older readers. His book is a kid-friendly book to spark early interest and understanding of the concepts,
My Cell Phone Can Think
This book is a perfect introduction to artificial intelligence (AI) for children. Preparing children for a future where AI controls all devices—and even buses and cars. From voice assistants to self-driving vehicles, AI is showing up everywhere. As AI applications expand to more fields, it is becoming more and more important for children to know about this innovation. “My Cell Phone Can Think: A Textbook on Artificial Intelligence” is a fun-to-read book on AI. “My Cell Phone Can Think” is not just another AI introduction book. Rather, it is designed for children to use as a textbook. In addition to many full colour pictures and anecdotes, the book contains history, technical information, and Q&A sections.
There are so many wonderful books being published to promote and engage students with technology……there will have to be another post!! 🙂
You could definitely see your expertise within the work you write.
The world hopes for even more passionate writers like you who are not afraid to say how
they believe. All the time follow your heart.