Simple machines Lesson Plans

Young scholars recognize and identify common objects that can be used as a lever. For this simple machines lesson, students experiment with materials to design and construct a machine that uses a lever. Young scholars also design and build a catapult.

Third graders review simple machines by sorting pictures.  In this simple machine activity, 3rd graders look at pictures and sort by the type of simple machine it is.  Students recognize that simple machines are used in everyday life.

Students research simple machines. For this physics lesson, students participate in a WebQuest to gain knowledge about simple machines. WebQuest activities and worksheets are included in this lesson.

Learners go online to understand simple machines and how we use them. They create their own simple machine, write a narrative describing their machine, then make a movie demonstrating how it works.

Fourth graders calculate the mechanical advantage of an inclined plane. In this physics lesson plan, 4th graders identify the different types of simple machines and their uses. They give examples of compound machines.

Third graders investigate simple machines. In this simple machines lesson ,students view a Powerpoint of simple machines. Students then take a walk around their school locating simple machines. Students discuss how science can be found in everyday life.

Students explore the concepts of force and effort by observing simple machines. In this physics instructional activity, students attempt to sharpen a pencil without any help, bite into an orange with their lips curled over their teeth, and other observable acts to exemplify how simple machines make our daily tasks easier.

Fifth graders identify six simple machines, including inclined plane, wedge, screw, lever, wheel and axle, and pulley, describe attributes of each machine, and design, in jigsaw groups, their own simple machines capable of moving brick.

Students describe simple machines and predict how they help us in our everyday lives by examining actual examples. They use pictures to identify examples of simple machines and state their purpose.

Young scholars investigate the use of six simple machines that make work easier. In this simple machine lesson, students research the use of a simple machine in order to determine how it affects the ease of work. They develop a PowerPoint presentation which includes a digital photograph and shows how the simple machine changes the amount of force needed to move an object.