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This book is one of four books in the Science-by-Design Series crated by TERC and funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). It integrates history, physics, mathematics, and technology in its challenge to high school students to design and build a working catapult system. Students investigate elasticity, projectile launching, and learn about frequency distribution while working through the process of product design. The activities have assessment suggestions and Internet extensions through the National Science Teachers Association's (NSTA) sciLINKS program and are designed to meet the new International Technology Education Standards as well as the National Science Education Standards. Key ideas include: (1) "Elasticity"--Hooke's Law states that the elastic property of matter is quantifiable for specific materials. Students measure the force/stretch relationships of common rubber bands as the basis for a reasonably accurate projectile delivery system; (2) "Energy"--the conversion of elastic potential energy into kinetic energy is used to determine range; (3) "Force"--force is studied and measured in the context of Hooke's Law and principles of gravity; (4) "Calibration"--students calibrate and document procedures for their prototype in order to meet performance specifications; (5) "Inquiry"--the design process involves students in inquiry, generating solutions, development, testing, and evaluation; and (6) "Design"--readings on the history of ancient catapults circa 400 B.C.E give students a context for the background of a catapult's technological design. Appendices contain inquiry and design processes, text reconstruction, and identifying variables. (Contains 27 references.) (CCM)

1Boy Crusoe

By Allan Eric

Also published as" A Yankee Crusoe" . A 15 year old hard working and studious farm boy finds the lure of adventure on the seas as a merchant seaman more than he can resist. This is his story. " I was born in a little town in the State of Maine, near the close of the Civil War. My boyhood life did not differ materially from that of the average farmer's son in the remote country districts of New England--except, perhaps, that I read more and thought more. Hard work on the rugged soil, two terms each year in the little yellow country schoolhouse, a day's fishing now and then filled the early years of my life full to over-flowing. " What he gets is enough excitement and adventure to overflow his wildest dreams. How he experiences disaster and uses his wits and knowledge to overcome every problem makes for a great read. - Summary by Phil Chenevert