Other
R Campus: Rubric Studio & Rubric Gallery
This is a great free rubrics site. The Rubric Studio is a comprehensive rubric design and assessment tool. Teachers can build simple rubrics or complex rubrics with multiple sections and flexible number of rows and columns. In addition,...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Let's Move It!
Young scholars explore methods employing simple machines likely used in ancient pyramid building, as well as common modern-day material transportation. They learn about the wheel and axle as a means to transport materials from rock...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Effect of Trebuchet Arm Length or Counterweight Mass on Project
A trebuchet is a catapult that uses a counterweight to supply the energy for throwing. They were used in the Middle Ages for attacking castle walls. In this project, you build your own model trebuchet and investigate how design changes...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Watch It Slide!
Students use inclined planes as they recreate the difficult task of raising a monolith of rock to build a pyramid. They compare the push and pull of different-sized blocks up an inclined plane, determine the angle of inclination, and...
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.
PBS
Pbs: Sesame Street: Science
A collection of interactives, videos, and documents on a variety science concepts.
TryEngineering
Try Engineering: Trebuchet Toss
A lesson through which students design and build a small trebuchet from everyday materials. After building and testing their models, students will compete to see whose prototype produces the farthest launch.
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Games Machines Play: Rube Goldberg Challenge
Explore the cartoons of Rube Goldberg and design a complex machine to perform a simple task. Use scientific design elements and information about energy transfer to build a model of the machine.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Wheeling It In!
In an open-ended design activity, students use everyday materials (milk cartons, water bottles, pencils, straws, candy) to build a small-scale transportation device. They incorporate the use of a wheel and axle, and lever into their...
TryEngineering
Try Engineering: Engineering Ups and Downs
Engineering design lesson examines the principles behind working elevators. Teams of young scholars explore how elevators work, then design, build, and evaluate their own elevator to service a toy car garage.
Maryland Science Center
Maryland Science Center: March Madness Finger Basketball [Pdf]
Build a miniature basketball court, and use a spoon lever to shoot balls into the basket. Experiment with different materials to see which one works the best.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: The Physics and Engineering of a Trebuchet
In this simple machines lab students investigate how the trebuchet works using their prior knowledge of simple machines. Students then build a trebuchet and analyze the physics and engineering that goes into building and launching it.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Slide Right on by Using an Inclined Plane
Learners explore building a pyramid, learning about the simple machine called an inclined plane. They also learn about another simple machine, the screw, and how it is used as a lifting or fastening device. During a hands-on activity,...
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Cantilever Model
Learn about cantilevers by building one with straws and masking tape.
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Rube Goldberg Invention Ii
Explore motion, force and energy by building a complicated contraption to pour milk into a glass.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Strong Arm Tactics
Students generally do not know the complexity that goes into building and programming a robotic arm. In actuality, creating such an arm comes from a design that involves mechanical, electrical, and computer science engineers. This...