Scholastic
Scholastic: Dirtmeister's Science Reporters: Simple Machines: The Wheel and Axle
An in-depth explanation of the wheel and axle from Scholastic. Also provides several examples and a picture for understanding.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Dirtmeister's Science Reporters: The Lever
This site provides a description of the lever and its many uses.
Soft Schools
Soft Schools: Simple Machines
Identify the six simple machines by dragging the correct term, and dropping it onto the associated simple machine.
American Association of Physics Teachers
Com Padre Digital Library: Open Source Physics: Sliding Down an Incline Plane
Here is a simulation demonstrating an object placed on an inclined plane. The user will vary the slope of the plane to see the relationship the slope has on the gravity of the object and the static friction.
Other
Archimedes Screw: Engravings
This site, maintained by Dr. Chris Rorres of Drexel University, demonstrates how the design of Archimedes screw has made lasting impressions upon modern society. These historic engravings demonstrate the practical uses of the screw in...
![Tech Museum of Innovation: Rat Round Up [Pdf] Activity](http://content.lessonplanet.com/resources/thumbnails/410039/large/bwluav9tywdpy2symdiwmduymc0zndetb3hocxj0lmpwzw.jpg?1589984977 "Tech Museum of Innovation: Rat Round Up [Pdf] Activity")
Other
Tech Museum of Innovation: Rat Round Up [Pdf]
This resource explains how to design a device to capture and carry a runaway rat! Students will create a device that will return a rat to its cage without harming it using specific materials. The lesson includes worksheets and teacher...
University of Houston
University of Houston: Science Lessons: Simple Machines Learning Site
Provides definitions of all 6 simple machines with examples and student drawing of them. Interactive "simple machines quiz" at the end.
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Simple Machines: Levers: Lesson 3
This lesson will introduce the three types of levers and show how to calculate the mechanical advantage of each. It is 3 of 3 in the series titled "Simple Machines: Levers."
Other
How to smile.org: Building Pulleys
An activity where students use pulley systems to pick up a paint can and move an eraser from the ground to the top of a desk. After completing this activity, students will understand how pulley systems can help us do work.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Solid Rock to Building Block
Students continue their pyramid building journey, acting as engineers to determine the appropriate wedge tool to best extract rock from a quarry and cut into pyramid blocks. Using sample materials (wax, soap, clay, foam) representing...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Design Your Own Rube Goldberg Machine
Rube Goldberg is famous for his very complex machines that accomplish everyday tasks. Students will design and build a Rube Goldberg machine that will accomplish a simple task in no less than ten steps.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: The Advantage of Machines
In this lesson, students learn about work as defined by physical science and see that work is made easier through the use of simple machines. Already encountering simple machines everyday, students will be alerted to their widespread...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Pyramid Building: How to Use a Wedge
Students learn how simple machines, including wedges, were used in building both ancient pyramids and present-day skyscrapers. In a hands-on activity, students test a variety of wedges on different materials (wax, soap, clay, foam)....
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Powerful Pulleys
Learners continue to explore the story of building a pyramid, learning about the simple machine called a pulley. They learn how a pulley can be used to change the direction of applied forces and move/lift extremely heavy objects, and the...
Other
D&t Online: Levers
This site illustrates different classes of levers that are used in simple machines.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Physical Science: Simple Machines
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] What a machine is, the three ways that machines make work easier and simple and compound machines.
Soft Schools
Soft Schools: Physics Quizzes: Simple Machines
Assess your understanding of the six simple machines with this interactive multiple choice quiz. Immediate feedback is available.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Dirtmeister: The Inclined Plane
This site from Dirtmeister gives information on how the Ancient Egyptians used the inclined plane. Dirtmeister explains the inclined plane and its uses.
Integrated Publishing
Integrated Publishing/the Screw
A full and complete discussion of the simple machine called the screw, a modified inclined plane. Many examples and drawings and applications.
Museum of Science
Museum of Science: Inventor's Toolbox: The Elements of Machines
Simple machines that were all in common use for centuries before Leonardo da Vinci's time, followed by devices that combine these in various ways.
Integrated Publishing
Integrated Publishing: Levers
A quite lengthy chapter on the simple machine the lever. Includes uses, classes, mechanical advantage, formulae, etc. A full discussion, with good illustrations.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Dirtmeister's Science Reporters: Simple Machines: The Screw
Scholastic provides an in-depth description here of a simple machine called The Screw. Also provides a picture and several examples for understanding.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Dirtmeister's Science Reporters: Simple Machines: Pulley
With-it explanation of how the pulley works, where it's found. Most interesting, as Scholastic material usually is.
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)
Smile: Simple Machines (Grades 1 To12)
In this lesson plan students start by trying to open a paint can with their bare hands. Eventually, they will use a lever to open it. Various activities are used to enforce different simple machines.