F2 Tech & Eng (Machines)

In this Form 2 (grade 4-6) study guide, students will be introduced to simple and complex machines and how they are and have been, used in our world.

The study guide includes reading assignments from the spine text, narration prompts, and open discussion questions. Experiments related to the reading are also included. Optional supplemental activities, such as current events, videos, and article suggestions when there is time, are also included. Finally, you will find a link to an exam for each course in the introductory material.

• Pages: 64
• Prerequisites: none

Spine Text

This study guide accompanies the living book The First Book of Machines by Walter Buehr ( Living Book Press, 2025, ISBN: 9781761534270; Living Library Press, 2017, ISBN: 0692973958), which must be purchased separately.

• 53 pages
• Reading Level: 4-6 grade
• Prerequisites: none

Walter Buehr (1897-1971) hailed from Chicago. He served in the US Army Engineers from 1917-1919 during World War 1. Army Engineers undertook diverse jobs: built docks, roads, bridges, and railroads essential to moving material and troops to the battlefront. Some operated enormous searchlights in anti-aircraft defense, others drew maps. First Sergeant Buehr received the Active Service Medal with three battle clasps for his service.

Returning from the Great War he attended the Detroit School of Design, the Philadelphia School of Industrial Art, and the Art Students League in New York. He then settled along the east coast with his family so he could always be close to a boat and the sea.

Mr. Buehr was a beloved author and illustrator known for the ability to “keep his discussion clear and his illustrations big”.  —Michele Jahncke (source)

Other Necessary Items to Complement This Course

• Review the Supply List for this course.
• A Nature Explorers Guide OR Handbook of Nature Study (LBP) by Anna Botsford Comstock

Schedule:

This study guide includes 33 morning lessons, three per week, each requiring approximately 20-30 minutes. Each week will include the following science lessons:

• Weekly Lesson 1: Nature Lore
• Weekly Lesson 2: Natural History Science Reading and sometimes an activity
• Weekly Lesson 3: Special Studies Reading or Natural History Activity

Other necessary science and nature study should be done during afternoons or evenings, and may include the following:

• Daily work outside exploring and investigating, making notes or drawings of their observations. Due to the subject matter of this study guide, some of this daily work will need to be done after sunset.
• Additional reading on this science topic and nature topics according to individual desire and interest.

My 6th grade girl just brought me her exam to read because she was so proud of it. She and her sister studied machines this term. She told me, “Light bulbs are so interesting! And I really loved the videos, because they helped me see stuff– it’s visual.” This same child has exclaimed last year, on an experiment day, “This is so fun! I can’t wait for my sister to do this!” My heart is full. My students care. They are interested.

—Sara D.

Sample Lessons:

A digital version can be purchased below, but the paperback copies of this study guide must be purchased on Amazon.

Neither the study guide nor the accompanying spine text includes religious content. Therefore, a separate secular version is not available. 

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