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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using Fulcrums

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students engage in a lesson that concentrates on the use of a lever and fulcrum. They define how a lever is used to lift a load. The lesson has background information to justify it. Students demonstrate how to use the lever while lifting...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Can a Mouse Lift an Elephant?

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Read Just a Little Bit, by Ann Tompert as an introduction to levers. Discuss playground seesaws and then turn learners loose to experiment with the placement of a fulcrum. Their goal is to determine where to place it in order to lift ten...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Positioning the fulcrum in class one levers

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students explore the relationship between force and the distance of the load from the fulcrum.  In this experimental lesson students get into groups and make a lever and record the force that is needed to move it, they then try this with...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fulcrums in Our Body

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders discuss fulcrums and levers and identify at least two fulcrums and levers on their bodies. They also identify fulcrums and levers on animal bodies.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Levers

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders participate in a review discussion of the parts of a lever, resistance or load, fulcrum, and effort. Next, they complete activities at six experiment stations while collecting data that they share with the class. While...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simple Machines - Levers

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders lift objects with the fulcrum and load in various positions and then experiment with how much force is exerted by the effort and load arms of the lever. They place 5 paper clips in the load and move the fulcrum to match...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Levers

For Students 9th - 12th
In this levers worksheet, students compare the three classes of levers. Students determine how the location of the fulcrum effects the amount of force needed. Then students complete 20 fill in the blank questions and 6 word problems.
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Lesson Plan
Cornell University

Catapults

For Students 4th - 8th Standards
Ready, aim, fire! Launch to a new level of understanding as scholars build and test their own catapults. Learners explore lever design and how adjusting the fulcrum changes the outcome. 
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Lifting Lever

For Students 7th - 9th
In this levers worksheet, learners create a lever using a yardstick, a cardboard stand as the fulcrum and a cup of pennies as the load. They measure the distance from the fulcrum to the load, they measure the load and they calculate the...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Lifting Lever

For Students 7th - 9th
In this lever worksheet, students build a lever using cardboard, a yardstick and paper cups with pennies. They vary the distance the effort is from the fulcrum and determine how much effort is needed to lift the load.
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Lesson Plan
Cornell University

Catapult

For Students 4th - 12th Standards
Studying levers couldn't be more exciting! Learners build their own catapults and test the results as they make adjustments to the fulcrum. They compete against other groups to create the most accurate apparatus.
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Activity
PBS

Helping Hand

For Teachers 4th - 8th Standards
Reach out and grab something. Given the task of picking up objects at least two feet away, pupils design and build a grabber. The last activity in a series of five challenges requires learners to use information about fulcrums and levers.
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PPT
Curated OER

Balanced Forces

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Examples and practice questions will help real-life understanding of the Principle of Moments concept. These great slides define the types of levers and pivots, and then give examples of the typical seesaw situations that help the...
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Interactive
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Scholastic

Study Jams! Simple Machines

For Students 4th - 8th
Here is a tri-faceted resource that has a slide show, a quiz, and a vocabulary list that you can use to teach simple machines. Six machines are introduced: wheels and axles, planes, levers, pulleys, wedges, and screws. Slides contain...
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Activity
Exploratorium

Take It From the Top

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Experiment with the center of gravity by stacking blocks in a way that appears to defy its force. This is a fascinating demonstration that you can use when teaching about gravity, forces, or balance. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Muscular System

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
In this muscular system worksheet, young scholars list the factors used in naming skeletal muscles. Then they explain how fascicle arrangement in muscles contributes to muscle mechanics. Students also describe the three classes of levers...
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Interactive
Curated OER

Student Exploration: Levers

For Students 5th - 7th
In this earthquake exploration activity, students complete 2 prior knowledge questions, then use "Levers Gizmo" to conduct several activities, completing short answer questions when finished.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Inverse (Indirect) Machines

For Teachers 9th - 12th
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...
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Interactive
Physics Classroom

Getting a Handle on Torque

For Students 9th - 12th
Do your young physicists get a little unbalanced when it comes to talking about torque? Scholars examine the effects of weight and distance on a balanced system with a simple interactive from the Rotation and Balance series. The resource...
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Activity
Museum of Science

Water Balloon Catapult

For Teachers K - 6th Standards
Fire away! Using a couple of milk jugs, a dowel rod, and a yardstick, individuals build catapults to throw water balloons. Learners notice that the catapult is a simple machine. By making a target, the class has a chance to refine their...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simple Machines: Levers

For Teachers K - 8th
Students discover the fundamentals and daily applications of simple machines. They investigate basic engineering theory through their hands-on demonstrations of levers.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Secrets of Lost Empires II-Pharaoh's Obelisk

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Young scholars identify and analyze how levers work by raising a brick with a shish kebab skewer. Students present their work, explaining what did and did not work, including illustrations of the lever lift from different angles. Young...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simple Machines: Levers

For Teachers K - 7th
Students discover the fundamentals and daily applications of simple machines. They practice basic engineering theory through their hands-on demonstrations of levers.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Just a Little Bit of Effort: Exploring Levers

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars build models of types of levers. In this simple machines lesson, students use dowels and modified wooden rulers to build different types of levers. They compete to create the most efficient lever in the class.

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