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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

TE Activity: Choosing a Pyramid Site

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students determine how engineers decide on choices for final designs and sites for construction. They look at a surveyor's report while they evaluate sites where a pyramid could be build. They consider the distance the pyramid would be...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Optical Illusion Machine

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students explore optical illusions. Using Legos, they construct and motorize a machine that has an axle that's geared up and geared down, complete a worksheet, and answer discussion questions.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Match the Machine

For Teachers Pre-K - K
Students identify simple machines found in different environments. In this matching lesson, students match the machine with the place it belongs.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Snow Day

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders work in small groups to design and build a snow remover while looking at a snow design brief. They combine 2 or more simple machines to form a compound machine following the design brief in order to meet the required...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

TE Activity: Pulley'ing Your Own Weight

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students experiment with common objects such as spools, string and soap to determine how pulleys make it easier to move large objects. They look at the difference between fixed and movable pulleys. They examine the many uses engineers...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Inverse (Indirect) Machines

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students observe relationships between quantities. Students complete activities for three different classes of levers. In groups, students build each type of lever. Students identify levers in their daily surroundings. Students observe...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Let's Move It!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students create a simple machine that includes a cart and lever system that could have been used to build the ancient pyramids. In this simple machine lesson, students learn about the wheel and the axle as simple machines that help...
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Lesson Plan
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Build Your Own Robot Arm

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Engineers team up to design and construct an 18-inch-long robotic arm that can successfully pick up a paper cup. Each group is given the exact same set of materials, but it is up to them to decide what to use and how to use it. It is a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Indianapolis 500 Unit-Science

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders access prior knowledge of simple machines to build a car. In this car design lesson, 4th graders create and race their cars.  Students evaluate what was good and bad about their designs. Each car will incorporate a simple...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Junkyard Wars: Air Movers

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Learners study Rube Goldberg machines.  For this investigative lesson students design and build a machine that uses several steps to move an aluminum can. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Levers: Catapults

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students construct a catapult that shoots a cotton ball at least two meters using Legos, rubber bands, and plastic spoons. They discuss how the catapult works, and identify any problems they had with their experiment.
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Lesson Plan
University of Florida

Clothing Capers: Creativity

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
No matter the age of your sewing pupils, they will enjoy these activities and projects that develop basic sewing machine use, following patterns, and finally creating a fun project of their own. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Build Your Own Hovercraft

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students construct a hovercraft following specific procedures. In this technology lesson, students explain the physics principles behind hovercraft. They compare and contrast this machine with the aircraft.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Air Movers

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners learn about Rube Goldberg machines (complicated devices designed to accomplish simple tasks and then design and build a machine that uses more than six separate steps to move an empty aluminum can. They can either work...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Alexander Calder: Master of Balance

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students build simple mobiles. In this equilibrium lesson, students investigate the functions of three types of levers as they analyze artwork by Alexander Calder. Students then create their own simplified mobiles.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Measuring Work

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students explore what work is, measure work done in moving an object, and tell how energy is related to work in both machines and the human body. In this measuring work lesson plan, students walk up a flight of stairs, measure the height...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Supersonic Spies

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students analyze a simple machine and use "reverse engineering" to create an exact replica. They interpret incomplete information to build a simple wheel-and-axle machine. Students discuss how building a machine activity correlates to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Building the Pyramids: No Light Task

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders perform experiments with simple machines and write up the results. They research the construction of the step pyramid and the three pyramids at Giza. Students research how the ancient Egyptians used simple machines in...
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Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

The Hand Drill: An Example of a Screw

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Learners examine how a screw works as an inclined plane and a hand drill works as a screw. In this physics lesson, students complete two hands-on activities working with simple machines including screws and hand drills. This lesson...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Basic Physical Science Concepts

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students use the concepts of simple machines to construct a mobile. The inquiry is made in groups and presentations are made by constructing reports. The assessment is based upon the final product of the mobile and how students use...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rain Machine (Solar Still)

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars experiment with a solar still. In this distillation lesson, students find a simple way to use evaporation to make salty water drinkable.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

20 Questions: Can You Stump the Machine?

For Teachers K - 12th
Students use technology to help them think critically. They collect data related to the tool, which asks 20 questions. They discuss how the technology in the machine makes it work.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Roll with the Punches: Depression Era Machinery

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students construct models of simple and complicated machines with Legos. Then they design an experiment using the scientific method. ESE modifications included.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Flight Dreams: Birds Flew First

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students observe how bird flight and machine flight are similar. In this aerodynamics instructional activity, students observe how birds fly and the shapes of their wings, and investigate how observing birds helped develop the concept of...