materials and instruments

Jamal, who will be in the fifth grade, and his little sister Nina, who is going into first grade, go shopping for school supplies.

Jamal is going into the fifth grade and his sister Anisa is going into the first, and when their Dad takes them both shopping for school supplies they learn they need different things.

Describes the various types of surfaces that have been used for writing throughout the ages including cave walls, clay, wax, papyrus, and finally paper, which was invented in China in the year 105.

Simple descriptions of paper, pencils, pens, and crayons explain how they work and how they were invented.

Discusses the scientific and technological principles involved in the manufacture of such school supplies as paper, ink, pencils, chalk, glue, and erasers. Includes experiments and formulas for making your own supplies.