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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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Activity
PBS

Reading Adventure Pack: Robots

For Parents 2nd - 3rd
Two activities work with a fiction and nonfiction book about robots‚—Robot Dreams by Sara Varon and Robot by Roger Bridgman. Scholars read each story, then build a robot out of found objects, examine robot sensors, and search for...
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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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Activity
2
2
Teach Engineering

Tools and Equipment (Part 1)

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Looking for the best inclined plane for the job? Groups calculate the theoretical mechanical advantage for four different inclined planes. They determine the actual mechanical advantage by measuring the amount of force needed for the...
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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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Activity
Dr. Seuss Enterprises

Read Across America

For Teachers K - 6th Standards
Celebrate the whimsical world of Dr. Seuss on Read Across America Day with a collection of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics activities, each linked to a popular Dr. Seuss story. 
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Activity
DiscoverE

Helping Hand

For Students 6th - 12th
Sometimes we all need a helping hand. Scholars get together to lend a hand in creating an assistive device that must be able to grab a hard-to-reach object. Now that's some help we could all use!
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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
1
1
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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Interactive
Curated OER

Past Simple Tense

For Students 3rd - 4th
For this verb tense worksheet, learners complete a crossword puzzle of past tense verbs, complete sentences, use pictures to write where people were in past situations and put verbs in present or past simple tense.
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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...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Three Classes of Levers

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders research the three classes of levers and create a Power Point presentation showcasing the fulcrum, effort arm, and resistance arm in each class. They then write a paper explaining real life applications of the levers.
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Lesson Plan
NASA

The Wright Quest

For Teachers Pre-K - 6th
A very impressive lesson plan on the Wright brothers and their place in aviation history. Learners discover many fascinating facts about the Wright brothers and their trials and errors regarding flight. Best of all, they get to build a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Help, I can't reach it!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students learn the major organ systems in the human body and research simple machines on the Internet; They design an informational brochure about a medical profession and present that career topic to the class.
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Lesson Plan
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Chair Lift Challenge

For Teachers 3rd - 12th Standards
During the Winter Olympics, this would be an engaging task to include in your STEM lesson. Design teams plan, construct, and test a miniature ski lift that can carry a pingpong ball up and down a rope line without falling out. With this...
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Lesson Plan
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Build Your Own Robot Arm

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Learners explore design, construction, and teamwork as they design and develop robot arm at least 18 inches in length using common materials.