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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Junior Solar Sprint Series: Gears and Drive Belts

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Activate middle schoolers' minds with this physical science activity. Learners vary the diameter of gears and the number of teeth on them to find how energy output is affected. This writeup features well-developed background information...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Gear Game

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discuss that the conservatin of energy states that the energy imput must equal the energy output. They then figure out how can a machine help you to perform task otherwise considered impossible? Students discuss the six simple...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Goldberg's Gears

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students engage in a activity that is concerned with the design principles employed by the engineer Reuben Goldberg. They read a biographical sketch of the artist and then create the context for studying how machines work. They create...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mountain Biking - Riding Uphill

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Mountain biking sounds like a lot of fun, but it also sounds like a lot of hard work! You have to get uphill to enjoy the ride downhill. Learn about shifting gears to go uphill and to keep your weight balanced properly. This is one...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Wind Turbine Kit

For Students 6th - 9th
In this physics worksheet, students set up a wind turbine kit to identify what happens when it is assembled. They describe how energy is transferred within the circuit created and how many blades give the highest voltage.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Mag Mile and ... Torque!

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students use paper plates and detailed directions to build a model of the Michigan Avenue Bridge's gear system. By carefully measuring and cutting "teeth" for the gears of the "Gear Train," they create small gear that will intersect the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simple Machines V - Wheels and Axles and Gears

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders investigate the principles and uses of gears, and examine how gears can be used to alter the direction of motion or the speed of an object. They observe two cars with different sized wheels roll down an inclined plane,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pulleys and Gears

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students analyze an engineering problem. They contrast paper and pencil mastery of concepts with hands-on mastery. They present their design and rationale behind it, whether it works or not.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Gears 1

For Students 3rd - 6th
In this gears worksheet, students put together and label gears and see how many turns it takes to go in a given directions. Students then fill in a chart with their results.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Gears 2

For Students 3rd - 6th
In this gears worksheet, students use a ruler and gears to conduct an experiment. Students follow 11 sets of directions,write a conclusion, and graph their results.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Gears 3

For Students 3rd - 5th
In this gears worksheet, students read about putting together different gears and answer short answer questions about it. Students also put together gears and read a story.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Gearing Up--Learning About Gears

For Students 5th
In this learning about gears worksheet, 5th graders read and discuss a 1 page article on gears, fill in 7 blanks to complete 5 facts about gears and make a set of gears from a template provided in the worksheet.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wheels, Gears, and Compound Machines

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders read selected pages from their science text and explain forces affected by wheels and axles. They read and discover that gears transfer forces and that gear combinations relate to compound machines.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Physics of Tools

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate the nature and work of simple tools and mechanics. They explain how each simple machine can be used in real world applications. They explore levers, balance beams, windlasses, wedges, gears, ocarinas, harmonicas,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

LEGO Construction Basics-Axles and Wheels

For Teachers K - 4th
Students examine axles and wheels using LEGO materials. They investigate the uses of axles, gears, and wheels.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Gear Trains

For Teachers 1st - 8th
Students work together to build a simple gear train. They record their observations as it gains speed and how the gears rotate. They develop rules about gears based on these observations.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Music Box

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Students work together to build a music box. They create figures that move when a song plays. They answer discussion questions to complete the activity.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Peak Performance

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students design and build a car that is capable of traveling across the floor quickly, and also up a steep ramp.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Build a Snowplow

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students design and build a snowplow using LEGO materials. They compete in an Engineer's Challenge to clear a path through Styrofoam peanuts.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Egyptians as Engineers

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Student design and build Lego vehicles that drag given amount of weight up an incline. They show how this demonstrates Egyptian methods of pyramid construction.