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Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Machines Can Move!

For Students 2nd
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about simple machines used in daily life such as: a pulley, a screw, an inclined plane, a wheel and axle, a wedge, and a lever. A question sheet is available to help students build...
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Interactive
National Geographic Kids

National Geographic Kids: Dung Beetle Derby

For Students 3rd - 8th
A strategy game where students build walls and ramps in the rainforest, so they can help the dung beetles roll away the balls of dung.
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Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: How to Make Something Simple, Hard

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers will have completed a unit of forces and motion prior to the current unit of study on simple machines (lever, inclined plane, screw, wedge, pulley, wheel and axle). Students will review the functions and examples of...
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Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Inventions Using Simple Machines Project

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students will have completed a unit on the six simple machines (lever, inclined plane, pulley, wedge, screw, and wheel and axle) before beginning this project. Students will choose to investigate an invention composed of one or more...
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Article
A&E Television

History.com: On 9/11, Some Evacuated the Pentagon but Kept Going Back Inside

For Students 9th - 10th
'We pledge to never leave a fallen comrade behind,' says one of the survivors. American Airlines Flight 77, struck the Pentagon between Wedges 1 and 2. Anderson was in Wedge 2. Pentagon workers who had evacuated were trying to get inside...
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Handout
Library of Congress

Loc: Tending the Commons

For Students 9th - 10th
Sound recordings, photographs, manuscripts, and interactive maps describe a way of life in the mountains of West Virginia. The culture of the folks in the Big Coal River Valley as well as the environment of the Valley are explored.
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Interactive
Soft Schools

Soft Schools: Simple Machines

For Students 3rd - 5th
Identify the six simple machines by dragging the correct term, and dropping it onto the associated simple machine.
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Lesson Plan
TryEngineering

Try Engineering: Simple Machines

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
The purpose of this lesson is to learn about the different types of simple machines and their uses. PDF (requires Adobe Reader) and RTF (requires Word or Notebook).
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Interactive
Beacon Learning Center

Beacon Learning Center: Simple Machines Made Simple

For Students 1st - 5th
The six types of simple machines are explained clearly through pictures, text and videos.
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Unit Plan
Beacon Learning Center

Beacon Learning Center: How Can We Move Our Principal?

For Students Pre-K - 1st
In this problem solving exercise, students must decide which simple machine would work best in different situations, in order to help the principal manoeuvre himself after he has hurt his leg and can't walk. The site has a good tutorial...
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Activity
Other

Institute of Physics: Practical Physics: Investigating Motion Sloping Surface

For Students 9th - 10th
This experiment allows both acceleration and deceleration to be investigated by data logging the output from a motion sensor.
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Activity
The Franklin Institute

Franklin Institute Online: Simple Machines

For Students 6th - 8th
Information on all six simple machines, nicely presented with extra information available for all. Other sources available. Do "Try This Demonstration."
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Handout
Other

University of Arkansas: Simple Machines

For Students 9th - 10th
A thorough discussion of all the simple machines, beginning with some thoughts on mechanical advantage and conservation of energy. Very complete. Move down to the section that interests you.
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Unit Plan
Scholastic

Scholastic: Study Jams! Science: Force and Motion: Simple Machines

For Students 3rd - 5th
A slideshow and a short quiz on simple machines and how they reduce the amount of work or effort needed to complete a task.
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Unit Plan
University of Houston

University of Houston: Science Lessons: Simple Machines Learning Site

For Students 3rd - 5th
Provides definitions of all 6 simple machines with examples and student drawing of them. Interactive "simple machines quiz" at the end.
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Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Machines Can Move

For Teachers 2nd
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about simple machines people use every day. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
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Handout
Utah Education Network

Uen: Force, Energy, and Motion: Complex Machines for Simple Tasks!

For Students 3rd - 8th
Designed for Grade Eight, this collection of lessons provides information, examples and quizzes related to simple machines. Elementary students studying this topic will find this site informative as well.
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Unknown Type
Soft Schools

Soft Schools: Physics Quizzes: Simple Machines

For Students 9th - 10th
Assess your understanding of the six simple machines with this interactive multiple choice quiz. Immediate feedback is available.
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Activity
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of American History: Things to Do at Home

For Students 9th - 10th
Families can come together through games designed to make history something fun and integral to family life. Build a sod house like prairie settlers did in the 1800s. Go back in time to visit five families that lived in the same house...
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Interactive
Walter Fendt

Walter Fendt: Apps Zur Physik

For Students 9th - 10th
This site, in German, offers numerous apps that illustrate common physics principles. Apps are organized into categories: mechanics, oscillations and waves, electrodynamics, optics, thermodynamics, the theory of relativity, physics of...
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Handout
eSchool Today

E School Today: Simple Machine

For Students 4th - 8th
Learn about the different types of simple machines.
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Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Simple Machines

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
During this lesson, students learn about the six types of simple machines. They define each type of machine, experiment with each type, utilize the Internet to explore each type of machine and build their own simple machine. This lesson...
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Lesson Plan
Other

Uss Constitution Museum: Constructing a Warship

For Teachers 1st - 5th
USS Constitution was built as a fighting machine and utilized the six simple machines of science to accomplish the many tasks required of her. Students will identify and manipulate these machines to create inventions that would have made...
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Activity
PBS

Pbs Teachers: Curious George: Ramp N Roll Experiment

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Identify simple principles of physical science and engineering by exploring ramps and things that roll. Predict which items will slide or roll down a ramp and test your predictions.

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