Simple Machines Teacher Resources

Students apply their knowledge of simple machines and industrial engineering as they imagine, plan, create, test, and improve their own factory subsystems. [10:41]

Students apply their knowledge of simple machines and industrial engineering as they imagine, plan, create, test, and improve their own factory subsystems. [15:25]

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...

Students learn about the underlying engineering principals in the inner workings of a simple household object - the faucet. Students use the basic concepts of simple machines, force and fluid flow to describe the path of water through a...

Students 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 quarry to...

During this lesson, students will have the opportunity to explore levers through hands-on experiences and by navigating the Internet. This lesson allows students to use their experiences to determine how levers and other simple machines...

[Free Registration/Login Required] Drag the labels to identify the different parts of the wheelbarrow as parts in a lever.

[Free Registration/Login Required] Drag the labeled triangles to indicate where the fulcrum of this third-class lever is as well as the input and output forces.

Here is a simulation demonstrating an object placed on an inclined plane. The user will vary the slope of the plane to see the relationship the slope has on the gravity of the object and the static friction.

A solid chapter explanation of the wheel & axle simple machine. Examples, the basic math, explanation of mechanical advantage, drawings, solved problem. Use the Next button. There are four pages in this chapter.

A video illustrates what an inclined plane is and describes the mechanical advantage provided by the simple machine. [1:30]

This site describes different types of linkages and how they are used in simple machines.

Learn about this simple machine, and see how it reduces the effort required to move certain objects through this fun and animated learning module.

image of Steam Engine Simple Machine

Explore simple machines. See how two kids used the scientific method to find out how a block and tackle, lever, pulley and winch could be used to build Florida's Coral Castle.

See how ancient hunters used science and simple machines to become stronger hunters. [3:10]

This site illustrates how gears work and how they are used in simple machines.

In this lesson plan pupils learn how to make a screw and compare how many turns it takes for different screws to embed into a piece of wood.

Investigate motion using straws and two soda cans.

Create a simple machine that transfers a rotational motion into linear vertical motion with this challenge. The site gives more details on the challenge as well as tips and place to document your design process. Teachers can find a...

This website challenges students to make a simple machine out of a straw to mimic the movement of joints in your body. The website includes a lesson plan, tips, and a place for students to document their design process.

Build a robotic face that can make facial expressions using simple machines on this website. This website includes the challenge, tips, a lesson plan, and a place for students to document their engineering design process.

Make a simple machine that creates characters for a theater show on this site. This site contains a lesson plan, tips, and a place for students to document their engineering design process.

In this challenge, students will transfer rotational motion into linear motion by building a simple machine. The site also includes tips, a lesson plan, and a place for students to document their engineering design process.