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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simple Machines

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students engage in a lesson that is concerned with the concept of a simple machine and uses the law of motion to justify why they operate. Students explore the laws by constructing some simple machines to illustrate the concepts.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Designing Machines

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Learners explore simple and compound machines. In groups of four students, they design a compound machine using K'NEX that has a stated purpose and consists of at least two simple machines.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making Life Easier

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students use a chart of the six simple machines and become aware of how the machines improve our ability to meet the following needs: shelter, food, water, and transportation. Students use model cars to experiment with force. They divide...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simple Machine Research

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders demonstrate the ability to use scientific skills and Processes to describe forces that act upon objects to cause specific changes in motion. They identify and describe a science problem related to forces and simple machines.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Monkeying Around

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders study machines. They watch a video about and identify and chart machines they find at home and at school. They design and build simple and compound machines, create an advertisement for them and attempt to sell them at the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Make a Refrigerator

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explore the concept of heat transfer as experienced in wearing winter clothing and analyzing the refrigerator.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Roll with the Punches: Depression Era Machinery

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners construct models of simple and complicated machines with Legos. Then they design an experiment using the scientific method. ESE modifications included.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

When Things Start Heating Up

For Teachers 3rd - Higher Ed
Students develop a clearer understanding of how and why heat is produced from things that give off light, from machines, or when one thing is rubbed against another.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Learning the Basic Levers...One, Two, Three: Different Basic Arrangements Levers

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders read information about levers. They complete worksheets to summarize their learning. This instructional activity relies heavily on the Silver Burdett Ginn text, Science Discovery Works, Energy, Work, and Machines. The...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Physics Around the School: Simple Machines In and Out of the Classroom

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students explore different machines and the components that encompass the science of physics.  In this physics lesson students explore how things move.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plate, punch card, and instructions for Herman Hollerith's Electric Sorting and Tabulating Machine

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers read an article and participate in a class discussion.  In this technology and engineering lesson students conduct an online search for images and terms.
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Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

Lift and Pull

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the mechanical advantage of pulleys.  In this pulleys lesson students are given a challenge to help save a whale by setting up different pulleys systems to move it. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simple Machines, Odd Machine

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine levers and design a machine that uses a lever as a central component.  In this lever machine lesson students test various machine designs and evaluate their effectiveness.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Junkyard Wars: Air Movers

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Students study Rube Goldberg machines.  In this investigative instructional activity students design and build a machine that uses several steps to move an aluminum can. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Machine Poetry

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders write poems describing the relationship of machine parts. In this poetry writing lesson plan, 4th graders review a system and examples. Students discuss the systems individual parts and how they work. Students use the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simple Machines, Odd Machines

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore simple machines. In this physical science lesson, students identify six simple machines, illustrate each and identify how these machines function or can be combined to create a compound machine.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Agriculture in Motion

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders write a poem and an essay about the machines they have learned about that are used in agriculture. In this machines lesson plan, 6th graders compare different kinds of machines and discuss the economic impact machines in...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simple Electric Motor

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students build simple electric motors. In this hands-on science lesson, students gather the listed materials and follow the provided directions to make simple electric motors.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Machines at Work

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Pupils discuss how simple machines have made our lives easier and construct a compound machine. For this machines lesson plan, students watch a video on machines, look at websites, and follow task cards in order to make a simple machine.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Measuring Work

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students explore what work is, measure work done in moving an object, and tell how energy is related to work in both machines and the human body. In this measuring work lesson plan, students walk up a flight of stairs, measure the height...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Efficiency

For Students 10th - 12th
In this efficiency worksheet, students use the efficiency equation to solve for useful work done by the machine (output). This worksheet has 10 problems to solve.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Mechanical Advantage

For Students 10th - 12th
In this mechanical advantage worksheet, students use the equation for mechanical advantage to solve for output force or input force. Students complete 3 problems.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Six Simple Machines

For Students 6th - 8th
In this science worksheet, students find the words that are associated with the six types of simple machines. The answers are found at the bottom of the page.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Word & Machines Vocabulary Review Word Search

For Students 7th - 9th
In this work and machines word search, students identify words dealing with the physics of work. They locate approximately 20 words from a given list. An answer sheet is provided.