Shovel facts for kids

Using a shovel to remove material from a train engine

A shovel is a handy tool that helps you move loose stuff around. Think of things like dirt, sand, or snow. Shovels have a flat part called a "blade" at the bottom. This blade is slightly angled from the handle. This design makes it easy to scoop up materials and move them.

While you can dig with a shovel, it's not the best tool for hard digging. For that, a spade works much better. Spades are usually straight and push force directly down. Shovels are great for moving loose materials. These include things like coal, snow, or gravel. Most shovels have a metal blade. Their handles are often made of wood or strong plastic.

Different Kinds of Shovels

Picture	Name (and other names if any)	What it's used for
	coal shovel	This shovel has a wide, flat blade. Its sides curve up steeply. It often has a short, D-shaped handle. People use it to move different types of coal.
	snow shovel	Snow shovels often have a very wide blade. The blade usually curves upward and has no sides. They are attached to a long handle. Some are made for pushing snow. Others are better for lifting it. The blade can be metal or plastic. Plastic ones are lighter and keep their shape well.
	snow sled shovel snow scoop sleigh shovel	This is a large, deep shovel. It looks a bit like a big scoop or a sled. It has a wide handle. You use it to scoop up a lot of snow. Then, you slide it on a slippery surface to move it without lifting.
	snow pusher	This shovel is mostly for pushing snow out of the way. It has a wide, flat blade.
	grain shovel barn shovel	This shovel has a wide blade. It is often made of aluminum or plastic. It connects to a short wooden handle with a "D" top. This shovel is light. It is designed not to damage grain. Older versions were made from wood.
	spoon shovel	This shovel has a long handle. It has a small, oval, cupped blade at the end. The blade is angled. It is used to dig deep, narrow holes. It looks like a giant spoon.
	gardening trowel	A trowel is a small tool you hold with one hand. It is used for digging, scooping, or spreading materials like dirt. In gardening, trowels help you plant things. They are good for digging small holes and breaking up clumps of soil. Gardening trowels usually have strong, narrow blades with sharp points. They are a small type of spade.
	roofing shovel	This is a special tool for prying. It helps remove old roof shingles and the layers under them. This is part of fixing a roof. It developed from tools like spading forks.
	spade	A spade is a type of shovel made for digging hard ground. You need to use a lot of force to break the ground. Most spades have sharp or nearly sharp edges. They often have a triangular point. Some spades are narrow but don't have a point. They are good for cutting lawns. They also help move bushes and small trees.
	square shovel	This is a general type of shovel. It includes many shovels with a square shape. This is different from spades, which are often pointed. But there isn't always a clear difference between square shovels and spades.
	scoop	A scoop is a general type of shovel. It has a dished or cupped shape. It usually has a fairly square edge. Scoops are made for picking up dirt or other materials that are already loose. They don't need the strong digging power of a spade's point.
	fireplace shovel (see middle tool in image)	This is one of the tools used with a fireplace. It is called a fire iron. People use it to move and clean up ashes.
	toy shovel	Toy shovels are common playthings. Kids use them on sandy beaches, in sandboxes, or in yards and gardens.
	trenching shovel trenching spade drain spade	This shovel has a long, thin blade. It has strong, upturned sides. It is used for digging narrow ditches called trenches.
	entrenching tool	This is a smaller shovel. It can sometimes fold up. Soldiers use it to dig and maintain their defensive fighting positions.

Images for kids

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  A man carrying shovels

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  A boy cleaning a gutter with a spade

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  Typical action when shoveling material from the ground

See also

In Spanish: Pala para niños