Alabama Learning Exchange
Simple Machines Webquest
Middle schoolers explore simple machines through a Webquest with Internet resources provided for research of simple machines. They create a report, with pictures, in Word, and finally, invent their own simple machine for presentation.
Curated OER
Simple Machines
Students investigate simple machines. In this simple machines instructional activity, students explore how tools increase productivity and make life easier. Students experiment with simple tools and discover the parts of each tool.
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Simple Machines
Students engage in a lesson that explores the concept of simple machines. They view a powerpoint media presentation and then are introduced to adult volunteers for the lesson. Each volunteer is at a station with a simple machine and...
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Simple Machines-Pulleys
Third graders understand what a pulley is and how it works. In this simple machines, pulley lesson students experiment with broom sticks creating a pulley. Students observe how the pulley moves in its different trials.
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Simple Machines Vocabulary Quiz Worksheet
In this simple machines vocabulary quiz activity, students match the 19 terms in the word bank to the appropriate definitions.
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Simple Machines, Engines and the Environment
Students examine and describe the six main simple machines. In groups, they work with an inclined plane to calculate the ideal and actual mechanical advantages of the plane. Using their results, they must determine the efficiency of the...
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Simple machine Webqest
Third graders explore simple machines. Using specified Internet sites, 3rd graders gather information on types of machines. They define vocabulary words and locate examples of different types of simple machines. Students invent a new...
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Simple Machines
Students are introduced to a scenario: a ramshackle house is in need of repair. The roof leaks, the refrigerator is broken, it needs paint, etc. They are explained that in order to repair the home, students must use tools. Students...
Curated OER
Simple Machines
In this simple machine learning exercise, students read twelve clues to complete a crossword puzzle. The clues are a review of all simple machines.
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Tree House Escape!
Young scholars participate in a role play in which they use simple machines to do the work of retrieving their sibling from a tree which lost its ladder. They investigate how work is accomplished when an object moves in the direction of...
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Pyramid Building: How to Use a Wedge
Students explore the simple machine of a wedge. In this wedge lesson, students test wedges on different materials including wax, soap, clay and foam. They learn how a wedge was used to build the ancient pyramid and modern day skyscrapers.
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Flowing From Here to There
Sixth graders discover how humans modify their environment. They work together to design their own simple machine to transport materials. They record observations and suggest modifications.
University of California
Work, Energy, Power, Momentum
Planning a physics unit on energy can take a lot of work, luckily this instructional presentation is here to help. Covering everything from work and energy to elastic collisions and the conservation of momentum, this comprehensive...
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Modern Day Pyramids
Students investigate the ways in which ancient technologies - six types of simple machines and combinations - are used to construct modern buildings. As they work together to solve a design problem (designing and building a modern...
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Playground Physics
Students research definitions and examples of simple machines. They identify simple machines that are working parts of playground equipment that reflects their personalities and incorporates at least two simple machines. Students are...
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Energy Transformation with Simple Machines
First graders identify both potential and kinetic energy in a game they play in the classroom. They listen as the teacher explains the difference between potential and kinetic energy when observing a simple machine. Using simple...
Hawaiʻi State Department of Education
Machines
What do science and dance have in common? Simple machines, work, and force! First, children discuss machines, wheels, inclined planes, and wedges. They create inclined planes with their bodies and make up dances about wheels and wedges....
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Inclined Plane and Pulley
Students describe how inclined plane and pulleys make work easier. In this physics lesson, students calculate work done and mechanical advantage of both simple machines. They collect data from the experiment and construct graphs.
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Las Maquinas y Nosotros: Machines and Us
Second graders explain the relationship between energy and work. In this technology lesson, 2nd graders describe the different uses of machines in their everyday lives. They record observations and data in their science journal.
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Machines at Work
Students discuss how simple machines have made our lives easier and construct a compound machine. In this machines lesson plan, students watch a video on machines, look at websites, and follow task cards in order to make a simple machine.
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Force and Motion
Each of the slides here gives a definition, equation, or calculation example for a component of force and motion. This large collection covers topics from momentum and Newton's laws to centripetal forces and simple machines. Animations...
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Summer Machines Activity: How Can We Move This Box of Blocks?
Students discover there's more than one way to move a heavy load. In this problem solving lesson, students use observation and problem-solving skills as they experiment with simple machines in order to transport loads.
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You are Uniquely You
Students compare and contrast simple machines and their functions. In this cross-curriculum science simple machines activity, students observe examples and read about simple machines, then use body movement to demonstrate how machines...
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Inventor's Workshop
Students explore the six simple machines that are the basis for all mechanical devices. In this physics lesson, students choose one simple machine to research and then find a complex machine it is apart of. Students examine Leonardo...