The book‘s explanation of a steam locomotive reads like something I’d read to my 3 year old nephew, not a 3rd grader.
“The steam presses on pipes inside the locomotive. It moves a special part that turns the wheels.”
So I found a video that explains it all in proper terms: piston, valve, etc.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZSoMxTb1ZM]
So after watching the video, we can read the slightly less childish text on page 215 that describes the job of a fireman and the engineer.
Discussion Questions:
- How is the fireman on a train different than a fireman in our neighborhood? How are they the same?
- What is the engineer’s job?
- What kind of problems might an engineer see on the tracks ahead?
- What movie can you think of where an engineer saw a problem on the tracks ahead?
Links for more information:
ScienceWithMe.com
How the Steam Engine of the Locomotive Works
Animated Engines
Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum
HowStuffWorks