Chicago Children's Museum
Simple Machines: Force and Motion
Get things moving with this elementary science unit on simple machines. Through a series of nine lessons including teacher demonstrations, hands-on activities, and science experiments, young scientists learn about forces, motion, and...
Curated OER
Simple Machines Worksheet
Simplify students' lives with this physical science note-taking guide. From inclined planes to moveable pulleys, this resource supports young scientists with defining each type of simple machine while identifying their mechanical...
Curated OER
On The Go! Forces and Motion
Students create a car using physics. In this forces and motion lesson plan, students create a car and test which changes in design change the performance of the car. Students complete a graphic organizer with the different changes they see.
Curated OER
The Slant on Slides Lab
In this inclined planes learning exercise, students investigate the effort force needed to move a 1 kg weight up a ramp to different distances on the ramp. Students calculate the work input and output for each trial as well as the...
Curated OER
My Angle on Cooling
Students explore how the angle and distance of an object can change it's temperature. After reviewing how the position of the Earth affects the temperature of the planet, student groups design and perform an experiment to test how...
Curated OER
Levers and Wedges in the Human Body
Students identify the various parts of the body that serve as wedges and levers, identifying the fulcrum for each body lever. They bite into carrots and apples to analyze how their jaws and teeth work, then complete three worksheets that...
Teach Engineering
Not So Simple
Compound machines, nothing more than a combination of simple machines working together, are the focus of an activity that asks class members to use the provided information to take a look at the way innovators combine simple machines to...
Teach Engineering
The Advantage of Machines
Show your students how to make their work easier. The first lesson plan in a series of 10 introduces the class to work and the way simple machines can be make work easier. The simple machines scholars can find in everyday items are...
Mr. E. Science
Work and Machines
What would you be if you were attached to another object by an inclined plane wrapped helically around an axis? In this fourth presentation that covers work and simple machines, young physicists look at Newtons and Joules as well as...
Curated OER
Inclined Plane 2
For this activity, you'll need each child to have two wooden blocks, one fat wedge, one skinny wedge, and a ruler. After setting the two wooden blocks side-by-side, they use the different wedges to push the blocks apart, recording the...
Curated OER
Matching Types of Simple Machines
In this matching types of simple machines worksheet, 5th graders read the definition and examples of simple machines, then match 10 pictures of devices with 4 categories.
Curated OER
Simple Machines, Engines and the Environment
Fourth graders calculate the mechanical advantage of an inclined plane. In this physics lesson, 4th graders identify the different types of simple machines and their uses. They give examples of compound machines.
Curated OER
Sunken Millions Simple Machines
This PowerPoint includes a quiz show game in which two teams compete for points received by answering questions about simple machines. The content reviewed includes the types of simple machines, identifying examples of simple machines...
Curated OER
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.
Curated OER
Simple Machines Chart
In this simple machines chart, students are given six simple machines, a description of what each is, the benefits of each type of machine and examples.
Curated OER
The Hand Drill: An Example of a Screw
Young scholars examine how a screw works as an inclined plane and a hand drill works as a screw. For this physics lesson, students complete two hands-on activities working with simple machines including screws and hand drills. This...
Curated OER
Ramps
Students experiment to see how various objects roll down ramps. For this ramp lesson, students observe weight, size, and material of objects. Students compare speeds by using a second ramp.
Curated OER
Mr. and Miss Big Feet
Third graders experiment with gravitational force. In this physical science lesson, 3rd graders send matchbox cars off a ramp while changing the amount of weight attached to the car. Students record their data and discuss the results.
Curated OER
You are Uniquely You
Students compare and contrast simple machines and their functions. In this cross-curriculum science simple machines lesson, students observe examples and read about simple machines, then use body movement to demonstrate how machines...
Curated OER
A Slide is a Simple Machine
Students explore inclined planes. In this simple machines lesson, students conduct an experiment on a slide using a rope with a bag. Students observe the force needed to pull the bag to the top of the slide.
Curated OER
Objects Race 500
Learners explore the concept of "shape affects speed" through a series of experiments. In this physics lesson, students participate in an experiment in which various objects are released on an inclined plane. Speed and distance are...
Curated OER
Simple Machines
Learners explore the concepts of force and effort by observing simple machines. In this physics lesson, students attempt to sharpen a pencil without any help, bite into an orange with their lips curled over their teeth, and other...
Curated OER
An Introduction to Inclined Planes
Students investigate the properties of inclined planes and how implementing them can reduce the force necessary to lift objects off the ground. In this inclined planes lesson, students are introduced to the concept of simple tools and...
Curated OER
If Simple Machines Weren't Around...Worksheet
In this simple machines worksheet, students fill out a chart involving 6 simple machines while explaining the function and benefits of each one. Students describe which simple machine they feel has had the greatest impact on mankind.