+
Unknown Type
University of Houston

University of Houston: Simple Machines Learning Site

For Students 3rd - 5th
Simple descriptions and drawings of simple machines. Click on each image for a further explanation and examples.
+
Whiteboard
ClassFlow

Class Flow: Simple Machines Quiz

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart consists of a humorous quiz on identifying simple machines and forces of motion such as gravity and inertia.
+
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Machines All Around Us

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Student will examine different rooms in the school looking for simple machines. They will use digital cameras to take pictures of the simple machine they have found in the school and Microsoft PowerPoint to create a presentation of their...
+
Handout
Scholastic

Scholastic: Dirtmeister's Science Reporters: Simple Machines: The Wheel and Axle

For Teachers 9th - 10th
An in-depth explanation of the wheel and axle from Scholastic. Also provides several examples and a picture for understanding.
+
Lesson Plan
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)

Smile: Simple Machines

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Good combination of teacher demonstration and student interaction for this simple machine lesson. Great for talking about force and work. Plans are for grades 2-4, yet are adaptable.
+
Handout
NASA

Nasa: Simple Machine Resource Chart

For Students 3rd - 8th
This site provides a chart that lists the six simple machines, defines them, explains how it helps and gives examples.
+
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Calculating Kinetics of a Student Designed Machine

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this interactive building experience, students will design and construct a complex machine to do a fairly simple task. Students will calculate several kinetic quantities of different parts of their machine. Students will create an...
+
Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12 Exploration Series: Simulations: Physics: Block and Tackle

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] A video module where students learn about the relationship between force, work, energy, and mechanical advantage using a simple machine.
+
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...
+
Unit Plan
Technology Student

Technology Student: Gears and Pulleys

For Students 9th - 10th
This site describes the basics of gears and pulleys, and their use in simple machines.
+
Unit Plan
Georgia Department of Education

Ga Virtual Learning: Physical Science: Work and Energy

For Students 9th - 10th
Find out about simple machines, calculate the mechanical advantage and efficiency of machines, differentiate potential and kinetic energy, and learn ways to use energy more efficiently.
+
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Spin Right 'Round With This Simple Electric Motor

For Students 6th - 8th
If you put on clothes that were washed in a washing machine, rode in a car, ate food from a fridge, warmed up lunch in a microwave, or played a video game, you used an electric motor. Try this science fair project and you'll learn how to...
+
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Construction of a Complex Machine Through Classroom Collaboration

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students take a simple task and make it much more complicated using a cardboard box. Each group must use a minimum of six simple machines utilizing at least four types of simple machines. The goal is to keep the initial impulse moving...
+
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Design Your Own Rube Goldberg Machine

For Teachers 6th - 8th
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.
+
Lesson Plan
Other

Ontario Council for Technology Education: Designing and Testing a Crane [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
By the end of this project, students will be familiar with the 6 different simple machines and will be able to identify how these machines are used in products and tools they use on a daily basis. They will investigate how mechanical...
+
Lesson Plan
Utah Education Network

Uen: Third Grade Writing Lesson #2 / Science Prompt

For Teachers 3rd Standards
Third graders will invent a gadget using one or more simple machines and write about it.
+
Activity
Other

Professor Beaker's Learning Lab

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
This site provides information on simple machines in machines and features links to a question and answer section as well as a learning lab.
+
Handout
Integrated Publishing

Integrated Publishing/the Screw

For Students 9th - 10th
A full and complete discussion of the simple machine called the screw, a modified inclined plane. Many examples and drawings and applications.
+
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.
+
Unit Plan
Other

Mechanical Systems

For Students 5th - 8th
A collection of resources on how humans use machines and tools to meet their needs. Covers simple and complex machines, subsystems that transfer forces, mechanical advantage, speed ratio, the effect of friction, efficiency, the science...
+
Activity
Technovation

Curiosity Machine: Challenges: Make a Wave Machine

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Take the design challenge to make a wave machine with simple materials on this site. Site contains a design challenge and an interactive journal to document the challenge. Find a video with an example of one way to make the wave machine.
+
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: The Magician's Catapult

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In this activity, students reinforce their understanding of compound machines by building a catapult. This compound machine consists of a lever and a wheel-and-axel. Catapults have been designed by engineers for a variety of purposes -...
+
Activity
Technovation

Curiosity Machine: Challenges: Make a Root System

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Inspire students to make a root system to help a plant stay put with simple materials like pipe cleaners, string, and marbles. This STEM challenge allows students to not only solve a problem but get tips and document their process all on...
+
Activity
Technovation

Curiosity Machine: Challenges: Create a Circuit to Light an Led

For Students Pre-K - 1st
This website contains a challenge for students to build a simple circuit that enables you to turn on a small LED. The website includes a lesson plan, tips, and a place for students to document their design challenge.

Other popular searches