Unit Plan
Chicago Children's Museum

Simple Machines: Force and Motion

For Teachers 2nd - 4th Standards
Get things moving with this elementary science unit on simple machines. Through a series of nine lessons including teacher demonstrations, hands-on activities, and science experiments, young scientists learn about forces, motion,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Move It! With Simple Machines

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore engineering by participating in a mechanical class activity. In this simple machines instructional activity, students identify many simple machines that allow them to perform tasks easily each day. Students collaborate...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simple Machines Scavenger Hunt

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders examine machinery in the modern world by completing a scavenger hunt.  For this technology lesson, 3rd graders utilize a computer to view photographs of simple machines they must locate.  Students take photographs...
Lesson Plan
Tech Museum of Innovation

Tree House Escape

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
Use simple machines to escape from a tree house. Pupils learn about simple machines and how they are useful in everyday life in a STEM lesson. Groups then design a device to rescue a friend stuck in a tree house.
Lesson Plan
Hawaiʻi State Department of Education

Machines

For Teachers 3rd
What do science and dance have in common? Simple machines, work, and force! First, children discuss machines, wheels, inclined planes, and wedges. They create inclined planes with their bodies and make up dances about wheels and wedges....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simple Machines

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explain how simple machines work and design their own machine. They use the Internet for research.
Lesson Plan
University of Florida

Clothing Capers: Creativity

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
No matter the age of your sewing pupils, they will enjoy these activities and projects that develop basic sewing machine use, following patterns, and finally creating a fun project of their own. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Technology Benchmark

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine examples of writing samples from NCS Mentor and discuss with students what makes each writing piece earn points. They grade a writing sample on the program and discuss various simple machines and their components.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simply Unique

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars identify, compare and contrast simple machines and their functions. They work together in groups to complete experiments using the simple machines. They write in their journals to reflect on the lesson.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Row, Tow, Pull Your Boat

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders use previous knowledge and research to analyze and solve a scenario relating to the use of simple machines and the Lewis and Clark Expedition. They present their findings to the class in oral presentations.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Moving Along With Simple Machines: Introduction

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students observe examples of gravity, friction, and force on the playground. They then experiment and participate in a variety of activities in centers back in the classroom.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Science: Invent a Gadget

For Teachers 3rd
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Soda Straw Weaving

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Young scholars investigate the loom and weaving process. In this weaving instructional activity, students use soda straws to make a bracelet or a bookmark. Young scholars use the over-under pattern of weaving.
Interactive
Curated OER

Past Simple Tense

For Students 3rd - 4th
In this verb tense worksheet, students complete a crossword puzzle of past tense verbs, complete sentences, use pictures to write where people were in past situations and put verbs in present or past simple tense.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Help, I can't reach it!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students learn the major organ systems in the human body and research simple machines on the Internet; They design an informational brochure about a medical profession and present that career topic to the class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Make a Lever

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students investigate how to make a lever. For this construction lesson plan, students explore how to construct a lever using dog and tail templates, cardboard, and fasteners. Students construct their simple machine in order to learn...
Lesson Plan
Perkins School for the Blind

I'm Thinking Of...

For Teachers K - 6th
Learning how to describe an object or a person is a great way to develop verbal and written expression. Learners with special needs improve their verbal expressive skills and concept development skills while playing a guessing game. The...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Navigating Nonfiction

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explore the arrangement of nonfiction. In this library skills activity, 3rd graders examine Dewey Decimal classification as they collaborate to locate nonfiction materials in the library/media center.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Haring Mosaic Reliefs

For Teachers 3rd - 10th
Learners make mosaics out of clay using the techniques of Keith Haring. In this mosaics lesson plan, students use clay, glaze, plywood, cement, grout, and sealant.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Forms of Energy

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students, working in expert groups, study a form of energy. They plan a slide show presentation using pictures, clip art, and student taken digital pictures that show the energy type they have become experts in. They use a planning sheet...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Agriculture in Motion

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students discuss agriculture. In this farming lesson plan, students compare farming practices from the past compared to when machines were introduced. They discuss this concept as a class and participate in multiple activities. This...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Publishing an Alphabet Book

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Pupils research, write and publish an A,B,C book based on research of their own.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Differentiated Learning

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students select a method of presenting on a given topic by rolling paper dice which have various presentation methods on them. They produce the activity and share it with the class.
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Levers - Weight Lifters

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
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...