Big Machines That Help Us

Big Machines Are Everywhere

Vroom, vroom! Listen to that sound.

It is a big machine! Machines are everywhere. They help people do hard jobs that are too big for our hands.

Some machines dig. Some machines lift. Some machines carry heavy loads from place to place.

Let's go and meet some big machines. Each one has a job to do. Are you ready? Vroom!

The Digger

Here comes the digger! It is big and yellow.

A digger has a long arm. On the end of the arm is a big metal bucket. The arm goes down, and the bucket scoops up the soil. Scoop! Then it lifts the soil and drops it in a pile.

A digger makes big holes in the ground. The holes are for new houses, roads and pipes.

The digger moves on tracks, not wheels. The tracks help it go over bumpy ground without getting stuck. Dig, dig, dig!

The Fire Engine

Wee-oo, wee-oo! Here comes the fire engine, fast and red!

The fire engine has flashing lights and a loud siren. It tells other cars, "Move over! Let me through!"

Inside the fire engine is water and a long hose. When there is a fire, the brave firefighters point the hose and spray the water. Whoosh! The water puts out the fire.

The fire engine also carries a tall ladder. The ladder reaches up high to help people come down to safety.

Thank you, fire engine! You keep us safe.

The Tractor

Now we are on the farm. Chug, chug, chug! Here is the tractor.

A tractor has big back wheels and small front wheels. The big wheels help it roll over the soft, muddy fields.

The farmer drives the tractor every day. The tractor pulls heavy tools behind it. It helps the farmer plant the seeds. It helps pull up the food when it is ready.

Without the tractor, growing our food would be very hard. The tractor is a good farm helper!

The Crane

Look way up high! That tall machine is a crane.

A crane is very, very tall. It has a long arm that reaches up into the sky. A strong rope hangs down from the arm, with a big hook on the end.

The crane lifts heavy things, like big blocks and beams. Up, up, up they go! The crane helps build tall buildings, much higher than a person could ever reach.

The crane lifts the load to the right spot and sets it down gently. What a strong helper!

The Big Truck

Beep, beep! Here comes the big truck.

A truck has lots of wheels — more than a car! It has a big box on the back to carry things.

Trucks carry all kinds of loads. Some carry food to the shops. Some carry toys, beds and chairs to people's homes. Some carry the things that machines need to do their jobs.

The truck drives along the road, near and far. Brmm, brmm! It brings us the things we need every day.

The Bin Lorry

Early in the morning, here comes the bin lorry.

It stops at each house. Its strong arms lift the bins up high. Then it tips all the rubbish inside. Crunch, crunch! It squashes the rubbish to make room for more.

The bin lorry keeps our streets clean and tidy. Where would all the rubbish go without it?

Thank you, bin lorry, for your busy work!

Thank You, Big Machines

What a busy day! We met so many big machines.

The digger dug a hole. The fire engine kept us safe. The tractor helped on the farm. The crane lifted things up high. The truck carried our things. And the bin lorry cleaned the streets.

Every machine has its own important job. They are big and strong, and they help us every single day.

Which big machine is your favourite? Beep, beep! See you next time!

Want to find out more? Discover how things work in How Machines Work, or take to the skies in A Short History of Flight.