Scholastic
Study Jams! Simple Machines
Here is a tri-faceted resource that has a slide show, a quiz, and a vocabulary list that you can use to teach simple machines. Six machines are introduced: wheels and axles, planes, levers, pulleys, wedges, and screws. Slides contain...
Curated OER
Levers in the Body: They Are Not What You Might Think!
Learners investigate lever systems in the human body and compare arm anatomy to model. In this human levers lesson plan students graph and analyze their results.
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What Can We Lose? What Do We Lose as we Gain Force With A Lever?
Third graders view a demonstration of a teeter totter as a basis for assessing pre-knowledge of a lever. They create a KwL chart. Students work in small groups to conduct a variety of experiments. The first requires students to tie books...
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Fulcrums in Our Body
Second graders discuss fulcrums and levers and identify at least two fulcrums and levers on their bodies. They also identify fulcrums and levers on animal bodies.
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Three Classes of Levers
Students explore three classes of levers. They classify the class of lever represented by a picture. Students discuss their choices. They prepare a written paper explaining their choice.
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Science-- "Moving the World?"- Learning About Levers
In this levers worksheet, students read a one page information text about the three classes of levers. Students then analyze 10 pictures of simple machines and circle the fulcrum point. Students classify each machine according to the...
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Positioning the fulcrum in class one levers
Students explore the relationship between force and the distance of the load from the fulcrum. In this experimental activity students get into groups and make a lever and record the force that is needed to move it, they then try this...
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Levers
In this levers worksheet, students review how to calculate mechanical advantages using forces and using distance. Students explore the three types of levers. Then students complete 20 fill in the blank questions and 6 problems to solve.
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Levers 1
In this levers worksheet, students follow directions to making levers with a ruler, weights, pennies, and more. Students then see how much force is needed when adding more weights.
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Levers 2
In this levers worksheet, students conduct an experiment on lifting levers including materials such as pennies, stickers, pencils, and weights. Students then answer 2 questions about what they found.
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Experiments with Levers
Students investigate levers. In this simple machine lesson, students study levers and the mechanical advantage of using levers. They will collect data and illustrate their systems for eight different tests.
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How Does the Elbow Work: A lesson in Levers
Students examine levers that exist in the human body. In this body function lesson students complete a lab activity that models how the elbow is a third class lever.
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The Lever Family
In this lever learning exercise, students determine the ideal mechanical advantage for different classes of levers. This learning exercise has 6 problems to solve.
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Simple Machines - Inclined Plane, Lever
Students brainstorm ways of using an inclined plane or lever and demonstrate using materials such as a board, fulcrum, etc. They divide into two groups and figure out to lift a crate using materials for a simple machine. Once they...
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Inverse (Indirect) Machines
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...
PBS
Helping Hand
Reach out and grab something. Given the task of picking up objects at least two feet away, pupils design and build a grabber. The last activity in a series of five challenges requires learners to use information about fulcrums and levers.
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Welcome to the Wonderful World of Machines
Designed for a lower elementary school classroom, this presentation on simple machines is a wonderful way to introduce this topic. The resource begins by identifying and defining the six types of simple machines, and then goes on to...
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Simple Machines-Lever
Students examine the lever. In this simple machines lesson plan, students construct a lever by using two pencils, three pennies, and a ruler. Students explore the uses of a lever.
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Secrets of Lost Empires II-Pharaoh's Obelisk
Young scholars identify and analyze how levers work by raising a brick with a shish kebab skewer. Students present their work, explaining what did and did not work, including illustrations of the lever lift from different angles. Young...
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Lifting a Load
Students experiments with levers to determine if the amount of force needed to lift a load is always the same. In this physics lesson plan, students use Lab-Pro data collector as they experiment with the fulcrum placement to measure the...
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Applied Science - Technology (1B) Pre Lab
First graders explore simple machines. In this technology lesson, 1st graders review pulleys, levers, wedges, and ramps. They experiment with lifting items with and without these simple machines.
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Earth Movers and Shakers
Students explore how the centuries-old invention of the lever led to today's applications in mobiles and crowbars. They watch a video on the lever, then utilize worksheets imbedded in this plan to guide their experiments.
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Secrets of Lost Empires II -- Medieval Siege
Students design a working working model of a trebuchet and demonstrate the power of a Class 1 lever. They test their models by throwing grapes the greatest distance and raising and lowering bricks.
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Simple Machines, Odd Machines
Students recognize and identify common objects that can be used as a lever. In this simple machines lesson, students experiment with materials to design and construct a machine that uses a lever. Students also design and build a catapult.