Academic Enrichment Theme – Simple Machines
Overview
Students will learn about what a simple machine is and study the six
different kinds of simple machines: inclined plane, lever, pulley, screw,
wedge, and wheel and axle. This unit is book based, with books available
from the Howard County Public Library and also involves student
experiments and a collection of simple machines. Students will complete a
page in a workbook for each type of simple machine.
You could culminate this theme with a Rube Goldberg challenge (the
public library sponsors one every year) where students have to use simple
machines to complete a task. Here’s what the library website has to say
about the challenge: The Rube Goldberg Challenge unleashes the creativity
of fourth and fifth grade students as they apply STEM concepts to solve a
problem. Download a PDF of the photo sheet from the 2011 Awards
Ceremony. Details.
General Bibliography
Each simple machine has a separate bibliography, but here are three books
that give an overview of all the machines and provide additional
experiments.
Thompson, Gare. Lever, Screw, and Inclined Plane: the Power of Simple
Machines. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society, 2006.
Tocci, Salvatore. Experiments with Simple Machines. New York: Children’s
Press,
2003.
Van Cleave, Janice. Janice VanCleave’s Machines: Mind-boggling
Experiments
You Can Turn Into Science Fair Projects. New York: John Wiley &
Sons,
1993.
Session – What is Work? What is a Simple Machine?
In this session, students will learn the scientific definition of work that will be
used throughout all the sessions. They will also sort a variety of simple
machines learning the six categories that will be studied in further sessions.
The book by Thompson, Lever, Screw, and Inclined Plane: the Power of
Simple
Machines, has a great explanation for work that can be repeated with
students (page 7). Have students push against an immovable object (wall or
really heavy piece of furniture – make sure that it can’t be moved). Have
them push as hard as they can. Then ask students to push a chair around
them room. Tell them that scientists would only think of one of these
activities as work – ask them to guess which one (pushing the wall or
pushing the chair). Then tell them that scientists define work as a forced
used to move an object over a distance. So, pushing against the wall wasn’t
work to a scientist because the wall didn’t move. Students will define work in
their workbooks.
The book by Tocci, Experiments with Simple Machines, does a great
introduction on simple machines and Rube Goldberg (pages 4 – 10). After
reading the pages, pass out an assortment of machines to students and see
if they can sort them into groups. The next two pages have a variety of
simple machines sorted out by type. Try not to pass out the machines
already in their groups. Have students share the groups that they made at
their tables – you will have a variety of sorting methods. Define simple
machine – a device that makes work easier to do and have students copy
the definition into their workbooks. Provide simple categories and sort the
machines with students – doing an example for each one and then seeing if
they can find other examples that fit in the category. Students will draw the
simple machine that they had during the sorting activity and label what kind
of machine it is.
Save the machines in sorted groups for the next six sessions.
Lever
Pulley
Screw
Baseball bat
Bicycle brakes
Bolt cutters
Bottle opener
Car jack
Chopsticks
Crowbar
Door handle
Drawbridge
Fishing pole
Flat head screwdriver
Golf club
Hammer
Hand truck
Hockey stick
Ice cream scoop
Nail clippers
Nutcracker
Oar
Paintbrush
Piano
Pliers
Scissors
Seesaw
Shovel
Tennis racquet
Tiller on a sailboat
Tongs
Tweezers
Wheelbarrow
Wire cutters
Wrench
Bicycle wheels &
chain
Bucket in well
Clothesline
Crane
Elevator
Exercise Machines
Fishing Nets
Flagpole
Hayloft hook in barns
Halyards on sailboat
Lifeboat storage
Sewing machine
Steam engine
Tow truck
Window blinds
Window curtains
Archimedes screw
Auger
Bolt & nut
Corkscrew
Curving ramps
Drill
Eyeglasses
Faucet (turn kind)
Lid & Jar
Light bulb & socket
Propeller
Screw
Soda bottle & lid
Spiral slide
Spiral staircase
Sunglasses
Toothpaste tube &
cap
Toy top
Vise grip
Wedge
Inclined Plane
Wheel and Axel
Ax
Bow of a boat
Bulldozer blade
Cheese grater
Chisel
Cone of a rocket
Doorstop
Dovetail joints
Knife blade
Nail
Needle
Nose of an airplane
Plow blade
Pizza cutter
Pushpins
Sandbox shovel
Scissor blades
Shovel blade
Starting block
Teeth
Wheel chuck
Woodpecker’s beak
Zippers
Access ramp
Bathtub
Boat ramp
Dump truck
Freeway exit and
entrance ramps
Funicular
Gumball machine
Ladder
Loading ramp
Luggage ramp
Roller coaster
Roof (slanted)
Screws
Sink
Skateboard ramp
Ski jump
Slide
Stairs
Swimming pool
Switchback road
Truck ramp
Wheelchair ramp
Bicycle
Big wheel
Car
Clock with gears
Conveyor belt
Doorknob
Eggbeater
Faucet
Ferris wheel
Fire engine
Fishing reel
Go-cart
Luggage carousel
Motorcycle
Pencil sharpener
Pottery wheel
Pull toy
Roller skates
Scooter
Screwdriver
Shower knob
Skateboard
Steering wheel
Tricycle
Truck
Wagon
Wheelchair
Windmill / grindstone
Session – Levers
In this session, students will learn about levers. This session is based
around the book Scoop, Seesaw, and Raise mentioned in the bibliography
below. You will also need examples of lever simple machines from the
introduction lesson. In addition, each pair of students will need a 12-inch
ruler, unsharpened pencil, large marshmallow, and a yardstick for the
experiment.
As you read the book to the students, stop and allow them to use the simple
machines mentioned on the page if you have examples of them.
Page 9 – flat head screwdriver, paint can (Michael’s sells empty cans)
Page 11 – seesaw (borrow a pan balance from Kindergarten)
Page 13 – scoop/digger, container of damp sand
Page 15 – bottle opener, soda bottle with cap
Page 17 – broom, paint brush and water
Page 18,19 – pan balance, nut cracker, nail clipper, play-doh extruder,
hammer
Have the students complete the Marshmallow Madness experiment to see
how a lever works. Then, they will define lever and draw two examples in
their workbook (labeling the fulcrum, load, and force) one of the experiment
and another lever from one of the books.
Lever Bibliography
Dahl, Michael. Scoop, Seesaw, and Raise: a Book About Levers.
Minneapolis,
MN: Picture Window Books, 2006.
Glover, David. Levers: Simple Machines. Crystal Lake, IL: Rigby Education,
1997.
Gosman, Gillian. Levers in Action: Simple Machines at Work. New York:
Rosen
Publishing Group, 2011.
Oxlade, Chris. Levers: Simple Machines. North Mankato, MN: Smart Apple
Media: 2008.
Welsbacher, Anne. Levers. Mankato, MN: Capstone Press, 2001.
Session – Pulley
In this session, students will learn about pulleys. This session is based
around the book Pull, Lift, and Lower mentioned in the bibliography below.
You will also need examples of pulley simple machines from the introduction
lesson. In addition, each group of 3 students will need 2 thread spools, 2
pencils, 40 feet of string or yarn, paperclips, and a message on a piece of
paper.
As you read the book to the students, stop and visit the simple machines in
various parts of your building if you have examples of them.
Page 9 – window blinds (if you have them somewhere in your building)
Page 11 – flagpole (raise and lower the flag)
Page 13 – block and tackle
Page 17 – elevator (if you have one in your building – take a ride)
Page 19 – bucket in well (have a student hold the pulley, while another
students
pulls up a bucket with a rope
Have the students complete the Message on a Pulley experiment to see
how a pulley works. Then, they will define pulley and draw two examples in
their workbook (labeling the pulley, load, and force) one of the experiment
and another pulley from one of the books.
Pulley Bibliography
Dahl, Michael. Pull, Lift, and Lower: a Book About Pulleys. Minneapolis,
MN: Picture Window Books, 2006.
Glover, David. Pulleys and Gears: Simple Machines. Crystal Lake, IL: Rigby
Education, 1997.
Gosman, Gillian. Pulleys in Action: Simple Machines at Work. New York:
Rosen
Publishing Group, 2011.
Oxlade, Chris. Pulleys: Simple Machines. North Mankato, MN: Smart Apple
Media: 2008.
Welsbacher, Anne. Pulleys. Mankato, MN: Capstone Press, 2001.
Session – Screw
In this session, students will learn about screws. This session is based
around the book Twist, Dig, and Drill mentioned in the bibliography below.
You will also need examples of screw simple machines from the introduction
lesson. In addition, each group of 4 students will need a 2-liter soda bottle
with the bottom removed, a piece of cardboard, scissors, tape, and a large
bowl of round cereal for the experiment (they can share the bowls of cereal
if needed).
As you read the book to the students, stop and allow them to use the simple
machines mentioned on the page if you have examples of them.
Page 9 – different kinds of screwdrivers and screws
Page 11 – eyeglasses or sunglasses with screws
Page 15 – jars with screw top lids
Page 17 – table lamp and lightbulb
Page 21 – curvy slide or toy with curvy ramp
Have the students complete the Up and Around experiment to see how a
screw works. Then, they will define screw and draw two examples in their
workbook (labeling the head, threads, and tip) one of the experiment and
another screw from one of the books.
Screw Bibliography
Dahl, Michael. Twist, Dig, and Drill: a Book About Screws. Minneapolis,
MN: Picture Window Books, 2006.
Glover, David. Screws: Simple Machines. Crystal Lake, IL: Rigby Education,
1997.
Gosman, Gillian. Screws in Action: Simple Machines at Work. New York:
Rosen
Publishing Group, 2011.
Oxlade, Chris. Screws: Simple Machines. North Mankato, MN: Smart Apple
Media: 2008.
Welsbacher, Anne. Screws. Mankato, MN: Capstone Press, 2001.
Session – Wedge
In this session, students will learn about wedges. This session is based
around the book Cut, Chop, and Stop mentioned in the bibliography below.
You will also need examples of wedge simple machines from the
introduction lesson. In addition, each pair of students will need a sharpened
pencil, sheet of paper, and 2 thick books (phone books/encyclopedias) for
the experiment.
As you read the book to the students, stop and allow them to use the simple
machines mentioned on the page if you have examples of them.
Page 9 – toy boat or ocean liner
Page 11 – chisel
Page 13 – nails of various sizes (piece of wood and hammer to try nails out)
Page 15 – toy airplane or rocket
Page 17 – doorstop or triangular block (borrow from Kindergarten)
Page 18,19 – foods shaped like wedges
Have the students complete the Get the Point experiment to see how a
wedge works. Then, they will define wedge and draw two examples in their
workbook (labeling the wide end, narrow end, slanting side, and force) one
of the experiment and another wedge from one of the books.
Wedge Bibliography
Dahl, Michael. Cut, Chop, and Stop: a Book About Wedges. Minneapolis,
MN: Picture Window Books, 2006.
Glover, David. Ramps and Wedges: Simple Machines. Crystal Lake, IL:
Rigby
Education, 1997.
Gosman, Gillian. Wedges in Action: Simple Machines at Work. New York:
Rosen
Publishing Group, 2011.
Oxlade, Chris. Wedges and Ramps: Simple Machines. North Mankato, MN:
Smart Apple Media: 2008.
Welsbacher, Anne. Wedges. Mankato, MN: Capstone Press, 2001.
Session – Inclined Plane
In this session, students will learn about inclined planes. This session is
based around the book Roll, Slope, and Slide mentioned in the bibliography
below. You will also need examples of inclined plane simple machines from
the introduction lesson. In addition, each pair of students will need a 12-inch
ruler, a yardstick, box or stack of books, weight that would fit on a ruler, and
a spring scale.
As you read the book to the students, stop and visit the simple machines in
various parts of your building if you have examples of them.
Page 9 – truck ramp, airplane luggage ramp
Page 11 – slide (on playground)
Page 13 – access ramp for wheelchairs (think sidewalks or school stage)
Page 17 – highway exit and entrance ramps
Page 19 – slanted roofs in community, sinks in bathrooms
Page 21 – roller coasters
Have the students complete the How Ramps Help experiment to see how
an inclined plane works. Then, they will define inclined plane and draw two
examples in their workbook (labeling the slanted surface, load, and force)
one of the experiment and another inclined plane from one of the books.
Inclined Plane Bibliography
Dahl, Michael. Roll, Slope, and Slide: a Book About Ramps. Minneapolis,
MN: Picture Window Books, 2006.
Glover, David. Ramps and Wedges: Simple Machines. Crystal Lake, IL:
Rigby
Education, 1997.
Gosman, Gillian. Inclined Planes in Action: Simple Machines at Work. New
York:
Rosen Publishing Group, 2011.
Oxlade, Chris. Wedges and Ramps: Simple Machines. North Mankato, MN:
Smart Apple Media: 2008.
Welsbacher, Anne. Inclined Planes. Mankato, MN: Capstone Press, 2001.
Session – Wheel and Axle
In this session, students will learn about wheels and axles. This session is
based around the book Tires, Spokes, and Sprockets mentioned in the
bibliography below. You will also need examples of wheel and axle simple
machines from the introduction lesson. In addition, each pair of students will
need an empty spool of thread, string, 2 paper cups, 2 pencils, 20 pennies,
and tape for the experiment.
As you read the book to the students, stop and allow them to use the simple
machines mentioned on the page if you have examples of them.
Page 9 – skateboard
Page 11 – tricycle
Page 13 – bicycle with chain and gears
Page 15 – old clock or clockworks
Page 17 – hand turn pencil sharpener, big wheel, eggbeater, fishing reel
Page 21 – toy car with steering wheel that works
Have the students complete the Round and Round experiment to see how a
wheel and axle works. Then, they will define wheel and axle and draw two
examples in their workbook (labeling the wheel and axle) one of the
experiment and another wheel and axle from one of the books.
Wheel and Axle Bibliography
Dahl, Michael. Tires, Spokes, and Sprockets: a Book About Wheels and
Axles.
Minneapolis, MN: Picture Window Books, 2006.
Glover, David. Wheels and Cranks: Simple Machines. Crystal Lake, IL:
Rigby
Education, 1997.
Gosman, Gillian. Wheels and Axles in Action: Simple Machines at Work.
New
York: Rosen Publishing Group, 2011.
Oxlade, Chris. Wheels: Simple Machines. North Mankato, MN: Smart Apple
Media: 2008.
Welsbacher, Anne. Wheels and Axles. Mankato, MN: Capstone Press,
2001.
Name ______________________________
What is work? What is a simple machine?
Work is
__________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
_________
____________________________________________________________
_________
____________________________________________________________
_________
A simple machine is
______________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
_________
____________________________________________________________
_________
This is the simple machine that I had to sort into a
group:
It was a _________________________________________
Levers
This simple machine
______________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
_________
____________________________________________________________
_________
One example of a lever is:
Another example of a lever is:
Label – fulcrum, load, force
Pulleys
This simple machine
______________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
_________
____________________________________________________________
_________
One example of a pulley is:
Another example of a pulley is:
Label – pulley, load, force
Screws
This simple machine
______________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
_________
____________________________________________________________
_________
One example of a screw is:
Another example of a screw is:
Label – head, threads, tip, force
Wedges
This simple machine
______________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
_________
____________________________________________________________
_________
One example of a wedge is:
Another example of a wedge is:
Label – wide end, narrow end, slanting side, force
Inclined Plane / Ramp
This simple machine
______________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
_________
____________________________________________________________
_________
One example of an inclined plane is:
Another example of an inclined plane is:
Label – slanted surface, load, force
Wheel and Axle
This simple machine
______________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
_________
____________________________________________________________
_________
One example of a wheel and axle is:
Another example of a wheel and axle is:
Label – wheel, axle, load, force