Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Robot Ramps

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students write the slope of a linear equation. In this algebra lesson, students follow a robot along a coordinate plane and create an equation to represent the ramp created. They identify the points the ramp passes through.
Lesson Plan
1
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Teach Engineering

Not So Simple

For Teachers 7th - 9th
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...
Lesson Plan
Polytechnic Institute of NYU

Potential vs. Kinetic Energy

For Teachers 5th - 7th Standards
Legos in science class? Watch your pupils fall in love with this activity. After learning to measure potential and kinetic energy, young scientists create their own ramps using Lego Mindstorm sensors and software.
Unit Plan
Discover Da Vinci

Da Vinci: Machines Exhibition

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Transportation devices, military devices, mechanical devices, entertainment devices. The inventions of Leonardo da Vinci are legendary. After viewing images of da Vinci's inventions, class members are encouraged to draft their own...
Lesson Plan
Perkins School for the Blind

Modified Kickball

For Teachers 1st - 12th
Kickball is a classic recess game that everybody should play at least once. Included here is a wonderful set of instructions that describe how you can modify the game to make it accessible to children with low or no visual ability....
Lesson Plan
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Purdue University

Simple Machines

For Teachers 3rd
What's the best way to use a simple machine to solve a real-world problem? Scholars construct their own simple and complex machines to explore the concepts of work and force. They discuss examples of simple machines they have found in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Egyptians as Engineers

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Student design and build Lego vehicles that drag given amount of weight up an incline. They show how this demonstrates Egyptian methods of pyramid construction.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Slope, Vectors, and Wind Pressure

For Teachers 9th - 11th
A hands-on lesson using the TI-CBR Motion Detector to provide information to graph and analyze. The class uses this information to calculate the slope of motion graphs and differentiate scalar and vector quantities. There is a real-world...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Osmosis in Potato Slices

For Teachers 6th - 12th
You may find this presentation helpful in setting up the classic experiment where potato wedges are used for observing the effects of osmosis. You can view the experimental setup in the text and a lab sheet in the pictures, but you will...
Lesson Plan
Bonneville

Solar Powered Water Pumping

For Teachers 2nd - 5th Standards
Here's the perfect lesson for those who think the world needs faster pumps. Building on the previous activity, scholars work to make the pumps function faster in transferring water between containers. They try adding an additional solar...
Unit Plan
Colorado Unit Writing Project

Simple Machines

For Teachers 2nd - 5th Standards
Planning an elementary science unit has never been simpler! These twelve lessons guide young scientists through an exploration of simple machines and their many uses in the real world before asking them to apply their learning...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simple Machines

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students create a pyramid design based on the 6 simple machines that they are introduced to. In this simple machines lesson plan, students are introduced to the wedge, wheel and axle, inclined plane, screw, and pulley.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

I'm Inclined to See

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars examine motion of a sphere on an inclined plane.  In this inclined plane lesson students complete an activity to discover basic relationships.
Activity
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1
Teach Engineering

A Simple Solution for the Circus

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Class members are challenged to design a device that will move a circus elephant into a train car. Groups brainstorm ideas that use simple machines to load the elephant. They then choose one of their ideas, sketch a plan, and present it...
Lesson Plan
02 x 02 Worksheets

Slope

For Teachers 9th - 11th Standards
What does slope have to do with lines? Pupils work with lines and determine the slope of the lines informally and with the slope formula. Groups use their knowledge to calculate the slopes of parallel and perpendicular lines. They also...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simple Machines

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders create a Power Point presentation to relate to their study of simple machines. They create a title page, a page introducing six simple machines, slides explaining real world use to each simple machine and import pictures...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Brown Paper Bag Simple Machine

For Teachers K - 2nd
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Friction Flyers

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Learners explore the principles of magnetism and friction. They complete an interactive puzzle on the Gizmos and Gadgets computer software, construct a vehicle, build and modify ramps and vehicles to produce various outcomes, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simple Machines and Modern Day Engineering Analogies

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students apply the mechanical advantages and problem-solving capabilities of six types of simple machines (wedge, wheel and axle, lever, inclined plane, screw, pulley) as they discuss modern structures in the spirit of the engineers and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Three, Two, One, Go!

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students work in teams conducting an experiment that demonstrates why the height of an inclined plane affects the speed at which an object travels. They record data on a chart and calculate speed to reveal the results of three trials at...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Math Mediator Lesson 10: Slope

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students explore the concept of slope.  In this Algebra I lesson, students investigate the definition of slope as rise over run or change in y compared to change in x.  The lesson includes a real-world problem in which the...
Unit Plan
Purdue University

The Represented World: Recreational STEM

For Teachers 3rd Standards
How are forces and motion important to a swing set? Scholars explore the concepts of force and motion using swing sets. In preparation for their own STEM design project, individuals take surveys and data from peers, complete labs on...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

I'm Inclined to See; Physics, Math, Science, Experiments, Graphs

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners discover the motion of a sphere on an inclined plane and discover basic relationships involving distance, time, speed(velocity), and acceleration.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Simple Machines Alphabet Activity

For Students 2nd - 3rd
In this simple machines worksheet, students put the names of simple machines in alphabetical order. Students put 6 names of simple machines in alphabetical order.