+
Graphic
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Lever an Obelisk

For Students 9th - 10th
Investigate the mechanical advantage of the lever in this interactive activity from the NOVA Web site.
+
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Give It a Lift With a Lever

For Students 3rd - 8th
Simple machines allow us to do difficult tasks like lifting objects heavier than our body weight. In this science project you'll build a tabletop lever and measure how much effort it takes to lift an object by altering the length of the...
+
Handout
Scholastic

Scholastic: Dirtmeister's Science Reporters: The Lever

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This site provides a description of the lever and its many uses.
+
Handout
Ohio University

Haptic Augmented Simple Machines: The Lever

For Students 9th - 10th
An explanation of the three types of levers, with examples of each. The formula for the law of equilibrium is also demonstrated.
+
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Levers: How the Human Body Uses Them to Its Advantage

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Young scholars will apply the concept of levers to the human body and build all three classes of levers within a musculoskeletal context. They will be shown how the musculoskeletal system is a system of levers and one example of each...
+
Handout
Ohio State University

Ohio State Univ.: Simple Machines & Mechanical Advantage [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
This site details how simple machines create a mechanical advantage for humans. Levers, theoretical mechanical advantage, actual mechanical advantage, and pulley systems are discussed.
+
Activity
Math Science Nucleus

Math:science Nucleus:identifying Bones of the Body (Lab)

For Students 9th - 10th
A nice site which provides descriptions of each of the bones that make up our skeletal system. Then there is a lab activity for students to complete in which they build a skeletal system and describe the structure/function of each bone...
+
Activity
Museum of Science

Museum of Science and Industry: Online Science: Build a Lever

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Step-by-step illustrated instructions for an experiment investigating how a lever works. An explanation of the science involved is given at the end.
+
Unit Plan
Scholastic

Scholastic: Study Jams! Science: Force and Motion: Simple Machines

For Students 3rd - 5th
A slideshow and a short quiz on simple machines and how they reduce the amount of work or effort needed to complete a task.
+
Activity
Exploratorium

Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Take It From the Top

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students defy gravity by stacking blocks in different ways in this exercise. Other projects are linked to this lesson as well.
+
Activity
Other

D&t Online: Levers

For Students 9th - 10th
This site illustrates different classes of levers that are used in simple machines.
+
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Physical Science: Lever

For Students 7th - 9th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Definition of a lever and the three different classes, and how each one changes force.
+
Handout
Science Struck

Science Struck: Simple Machine: Levers

For Students 9th - 10th
Explains what a lever is, its history, how it works, the formula for calculating its mechanical advantage, classes of levers, and uses of levers.
+
Activity
Other

Manhattan Beach Unified School District: Levers and Other Simple Machines

For Students 3rd - 8th
Learn about levers and make the connection between these simple machines and the human body.
+
Handout
Integrated Publishing

Integrated Publishing: Levers

For Students 9th - 10th
A quite lengthy chapter on the simple machine the lever. Includes uses, classes, mechanical advantage, formulae, etc. A full discussion, with good illustrations.
+
Unknown Type
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: The Forearm as an Example of a Third Class Lever

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a five-question quiz related to the passage "The Forearm as an Example of a Third-class Lever."
+
Activity
PBS

Pbs Teachers: Secrets of Lost Empires Ii: Lever an Obelisk

For Students 9th - 10th
Utilize an understanding of how a lever works to lift an obelisk, using as few of the weights and support stones as possible in this online interactive activity.
+
Activity
PBS

Pbs Teachers: Secrets of Lost Empires Ii: Lever Lift

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Examine the classes of levers and discover how levers work by raising a brick with shish kebab skewers.
+
Handout
Other

Hognosesam: Levers

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides a brief description of the three classes of levers.
+
Unit Plan
Sophia Learning

Sophia: Levers

For Students 9th - 10th
This lesson introduces the concept of levers.
+
Handout
The Franklin Institute

Spotlighting Simple Machines

For Students 3rd - 8th
Simple machines such as inclined planes in wedges and screws are explained.