Space Awareness
Let's Break the Particles
Build learning by breaking atoms! Young scientists study the way energy changes with a hands-on activity. As they roll steel marbles down a ramp, learners test the hypothesis that kinetic energy does not go away with friction...
CK-12 Foundation
Power and Efficiency Simulation
How much energy in Jewels does it take to tow a car up a slope? Scholars explore different values of both kinetic and potential energy to answer that question. Through multiple levels, the difficulty increases — as does your young...
Curated OER
Simple Machines, Engines and the Environment
Students examine and describe the six main simple machines. In groups, they work with an inclined plane to calculate the ideal and actual mechanical advantages of the plane. Using their results, they must determine the efficiency of the...
Curated OER
Work and the Farm
Young scholars listen to a lecture by the teacher about farm work and ways to use physics to make farm work easier. The machines that are highlighted include pulleys, ramps, lever, and gears. Each machine is explained in context of its...
Curated OER
Skateboarding Puzzle
In this skateboarding word search puzzle, students locate terms dealing specifically with the sport of skateboarding. Terms include such words as ramps, scoop, and backslide. A list of 18 terms is provided to assist students in their...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Investigating Friction
Young learners explore friction. They view a video or DVD (bibliography provided) and define terms related to friction, and work in groups to experiment with the effects of friction on speed and motion using ramps and toy cars.
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...
Curated OER
Slope, Vectors, and Wind Pressure
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...
Curated OER
Household Tools
Students explore parts of a system. In this simple machines lesson plan, students discover that simple machines are composed of two or more systems. Students examine household tools and assess the parts of the system.
Curated OER
Levers and Pulleys and Gears, Oh My!
Students explore the difference between compound and simple machines in this six lessons of this unit. The purpose and importance of a variety of types of simple machines and the effects of friction are investigated.
Curated OER
Watch It Slide!
Students work together to examine inclined planes. They create a plan to raise rocks to build pyramids. They discover the changes that occur when the angle is increased or decreased.
Curated OER
Simple Machines or Are They?
Learners discover basic machines and how they make completing work easier. They identify two basic machines, the inclined plane and the lever and the functions of these simple machines.
Curated OER
Easy Does It
Students discover how inclined planes make work easier as they make mathematical predictions and prove their predictions through experiments.
Curated OER
Watch Out!
First graders experiment with different sized balls and an incline plane to study how a heavy object push a lighter object. They examine the safety message of this lesson by showing their drawings of the crossbuck sign.
Curated OER
We Have Work To Do - Science
Students begin to think of ways to make work easier. They will focus on ways to extend their abilities to lift heavy things. They will identify levers, pulleys, and inclined planes through the examination of concrete objects and hands on...
Curated OER
Rules of the Roll
Middle schoolers roll a ball down a plank and measure the distance it travels. Students graph the distances the ball travels as they change the height of the incline (increase slope).
Curated OER
Rollin' On
Third graders investigate the effects of gravity on the motion of a marble on an inclined plane and a declined plane. They work in small cooperative groups to predict and explain outcomes.
Curated OER
Big Wheels Keep on Turning
Eleventh graders work in groups and investigate how force determines the speed and distance then they view the video, "Math Vantage #7: What's Your Angle?." They are given a real life problem to solve using speed, ramps, angle, incline...
Curated OER
Look At Those Leaves!
Kids observe, classify, and measure tree leaves with a scientific eye. They examine leaves, group them according their attributes, and use standard units of measurement as they compare their sizes. They access a web site to learn how...
Curated OER
Away You Go
Pupils build Lego cars which have two different types of tire surfaces. They roll them down ramps that have both rough and smooth surfaces to determine how friction affects the car as it rolls.
Curated OER
The Physics of Tools
Students investigate the nature and work of simple tools and mechanics.
They explain how each simple machine can be used in real world applications. They explore levers, balance beams, windlasses, wedges, gears, ocarinas, harmonicas,...
Curated OER
Applied Science -Technology (6B) Pre Lab
Sixth graders discuss how simple machines overcome friction. In this simple machine lesson, 6th graders review the parts of a plane and how they make up for gravity and friction. They roll different objects down an inclined board...
Curated OER
What Are Simple Machines?
In this simple machines worksheet, students categorizes examples of simple machines as either changing strength, changing direction, or both. This worksheet is a graphic organizer.
Curated OER
Forces That Move Objects
In this forces worksheet, students complete a graphic organizer by writing in examples of simple machines that can apply forces to move objects.