Teach Engineering
Rube Goldberg and the Meaning of Machines
A Rube Goldberg machine does not really look like it would make work easier. Introduce your class to Rube Goldberg with a resource that shows how his inventions make simple tasks harder to complete.
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...
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
Goldberg's Gears
Students engage in a instructional activity that is concerned with the design principles employed by the engineer Reuben Goldberg. They read a biographical sketch of the artist and then create the context for studying how machines work....
Curated OER
Simple Machines Word Search
In this simple machines worksheet, students analyze 10 words in a word bank that pertain to simple machines. Students find these words in a word search puzzle.
Curated OER
Simple Machines Vocabulary Worksheet
For this simple machines worksheet, students read ten definitions of words that pertain to simple machines. Students match the meanings with the vocabulary words in a word box.
Curated OER
Simple Machines
Here is a good four-page learning exercise designed to get your young inventors thinking about a simple machine they could design and build. They must answer some basic questions about their machine, draw a sketch of their idea, and...
Curated OER
Boat Safety and Water Sports - Lesson 7 - Fundamentals (machine)
Boat safety lesson 7 (out of 22) focuses on the fundamental body position for water skiing. This is done using a water skiing training machine. If you click on the resource link at the bottom of the page, you can view all the lesson...
Curated OER
Teaching About Simple Machines
Students identify six different simple machines. They investigate the difference between the ideal and actual mechanical advantage. Students calculate the actual mechanical advantage for several simple machines.
Curated OER
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.
Curated OER
Backpacks and Hills
This machines PowerPoint reviews effort and force in relation to work and informs students about different types of machines and the different ways forces are applied and how they work to increase efficiency.
Curated OER
Breezy Energy
Third graders view photos of machines that measure wind energy and chart what they observe in the pictures and the questions they have about the pictures. In this wind energy lesson, 3rd graders make a pinwheel. Students show the...
Curated OER
Pumpkin Roll
Students build a machine to roll a pumpkin. In this invention lesson, students work in groups to build a machine, in the classroom, that will roll a pumpkin farther than their classmates machines. The lesson ends with a competition.
Curated OER
Applied Science-Techonology Post Lab
Students study animals. In this machines and tools lesson, students study animals to figure out how various tools were created for humans to use. They are read the story An Elephant Never Forgets its Snorkel to help spark ideas. They...
Curated OER
Applied Science - Technology (KA) Pre Lab
Students explore tools. In this tool lesson plan, students see how tools and machines were invented to help people work easier. They see different types of simple machines such as wheel and axle, lever, and wedge.
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Simple Machines
Fourth graders examine a machine and how its parts work together. In this simple machines lesson, 4th graders work in groups to study different gadgets, analyze how the parts of the gadget work and draw sketches of the gadget. Students...
Curated OER
Brown Paper Bag Simple Machine
Students explore simple machines. In this simple machines science lesson, students work with a partner to identify what kind of simple machine is represented by a variety of household objects placed in paper bags. Students write down...
Curated OER
Agriculture in Motion
Sixth graders research machines used in agriculture. In this agriculture lesson, 6th graders complete a variety of activities that involve farming and crops. Some examples include: answering questions, creating a storyboard, poetry, and...
Curated OER
Break it Down: Reverse Engineering
Students disassemble a toy. In this science lesson, students compare and contrast the inner mechanisms of a toy car. Students predict and illustrate what the inner mechanism look like. Then, they disassemble the toy, and illustrate the...
Curated OER
Applying Science
In this applying science worksheet, students are given 8 scrambled words to complete sentences about technology, machines and robots. Students answer 6 questions about the effects of technology on life span and the use of robots and...
Curated OER
Understanding Simple Machines
In this simple machines worksheet, students read about various types of simple machines. They then use what they learned to answer 17 questions. The answers are on the last page.
Curated OER
Sketching Gadget Anatomy Lab
In this science worksheet, students observe a machine closely from several angles while in operation. Then they identify the elements of machines combined in different gadgets. Students also illustrate how moving parts in machines relate...
Curated OER
Work and Machines
In this science worksheet, students examine the topic in order to solidify knowledge covered in the curriculum using puzzles and creative games.
Curated OER
Simple Machines
In this science worksheet, students focus upon the concept of bicycle gears and develop the answers to the 2 questions at the bottom of the page.