Curated OER
Creating a Simple Telegraph Machine
Students experiment and discuss circuits and how they work. In this science instructional activity, students construct a telegraph machine using cardboard, wires, battery, electric tape and masking tape. They investigate what happens as...
Curated OER
Electricity and Magnets
Fifth graders find examples of magnets in or around their homes and make a list. They discover that some motors use magnets and make a simple motor using magnets, a battery and copper wire. They add to their magnet list.
Curated OER
Machines Use Energy
Third graders observe and discuss examples of friction. They discuss what experimentally increases and decreases friction. They then predict which surface will produce the most friction and verify the prediction.
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Cast Your Vote
In a simple but unique lesson, youngsters learn about the history of voting systems. They then collaborate in groups to develop a new honest and consistent voting method. A class-wide poll is taken, evaluating the designs of other...
Curated OER
Performance of routine movements
Students explore movement in dance routines. They observe movements and transform everyday gestures into choregraphy. Through activities, students develop improvisational skills. They evaluate and critique work.
Curated OER
Farming 2: Packaging and Transport
Students explore the special packaging and transport that many foods require to stay fresh during their journey from the farm to people's dinner tables.
Curated OER
Supersonic Spies
Students analyze a simple machine and use "reverse engineering" to create an exact replica. They interpret incomplete information to build a simple wheel-and-axle machine. Students discuss how building a machine activity correlates to...
Curated OER
Science: Invent a Gadget
Third graders invent gadgets using simple machine principles. Once they have assembled graphic organizers containing information about their invention, they draw diagrams and explain how their gadget works. Lastly, 3rd graders write...
Curated OER
Robotic Muscles
Students investigate how adding more pulleys affect the pulling power. In this physics lesson, students explain how pulleys work. They compare the work done by robots with and without pulleys.
Curated OER
Junkyard Wars: Air Movers
Learners study Rube Goldberg machines. In this investigative instructional activity students design and build a machine that uses several steps to move an aluminum can.
Curated OER
Investigation 1 - Push and Pull
Third graders study the forces of push and pull on motion
Curated OER
You Are Invited to Design and Build a Dream Room
Seventh graders watch a video and enlarge and shrink scale by applying proportional thinking. They practice measuring, using percentages, computing area, and problem solving.
Curated OER
Code Crackers Math Game
Middle schoolers, through this math game, are provided with opportunities to work with math operations and simple algebraic equations. They create a spreadsheet-based "rule machine."
Curated OER
Exploring Basic Physical Science Concepts
Young scholars use the concepts of simple machines to construct a mobile. The inquiry is made in groups and presentations are made by constructing reports. The assessment is based upon the final product of the mobile and how students use...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Levers - Weight Lifters
Students investigate how levers help to lift heavy loads. They view and discuss examples of levers, explore various websites, experiment with the levers brought to the class, and watch the video for the book "Mike Mulligan and His Steam...
Curated OER
Pet Rescue
Young scholars, in teams, follow the process of design, including the stages of investigation, creation, and reflection, as they devise a way to help "save" a (simulated) pet who is trapped in a pipe.
Curated OER
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...
Curated OER
What's My Rule? Simple Linear Functions
Students investigate simple linear functions by trying to guess a function rule from inputs and outputs. They write the function rule in algebraic form.
Curated OER
Time Travel, Black Holes, and Relativity
Students read the novel, The Time Machine, and compare H.G. Well's perceptions of the future with those presented in The Third Wave, by Alvin Toffler. They research current scientific and mathematical theories that relate to space and time.
Curated OER
Applied Science-Science and Math Lab
Young scholars explore magnification. In this scientific observation skills lesson, students observe sea life items and draw pictures of what they observe. Young scholars predict which lens will have the strongest magnification when...
Curated OER
Toys in Space
Studentsexplore how gravity affects the operation of toys and simple machines. They watch a video and experiment with simple machines.
Curated OER
Exploring Machine Trapunto
This machine quilting class will teach you how to add beautiful trapunto effects without having to make tiny slits in the back of your quilt. (Shops and teachers may use this description in their announcements, flyers, etc.)
Curated OER
Spin Art
The best part about spin art is that is demonstrates the concept of centrifugal force. Explore the magical spin of gravity as you make colorful art. This lesson idea is short, very simple, and requires a spin art machine.