What happens to scrap — the big metal objects we throw away?

Read the fascinating stories of people who have been inspired by material that already exists and have used it to create something new. We meet Fah Boonsoong in Bangkok, Thailand, who turned an old plane into a home for her family. Tchely Hyung-Chul Shin, an architect in Versailles, France, has designed buildings from the parts of old ships. John Lopez, a sculptor in Lemmon, South Dakota, uses scrap metal to create stunning lifelike sculptures. Others have restored old telephone booths and streetcars, created an extraordinary museum of automotive history, and more.

These remarkable stories show imaginative new ways of thinking about the things we throw away, inspiring us all to think of solutions that can benefit people and the planet. Based on the documentary film Scrap, produced and directed by Stacey Tenenbaum (H2L Productions), Raquel Rivera’s book features photos from the film and includes an author’s note.

Key Text Features

author’s note

biographical information

captions

chapters

dialogue

explanation

facts

headings

introduction

photographs

references

sources

Correlates to the Common Core States Standards in English Language Arts:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.2

Determine the main idea of a text and explain how it is supported by key details; summarize the text.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.3

Analyze in detail how a key individual, event, or idea is introduced, illustrated, and elaborated in a text (e.g., through examples or anecdotes).

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.6

Determine an author's point of view or purpose in a text and explain how it is conveyed in the text.