Curated OER
Ramps 2: Ramp Builder
Learners plan, build, and test a ramp that allows objects to roll far. After each group has tested out their ramps, allow them to test their design against the record previously established by the prototype ramp.
Curated OER
Plane Mirror Images
Students view a demonstration to investigate mirror images. In this plane mirror lesson plan, students view a teacher demonstration of a plane mirror and the images it creates. They use meter sticks to investigate the angles of...
Curated OER
Levers, Pulleys, Incline Planes
In this pulleys, levers and incline planes worksheet, students answer 22 questions about output force, energy loss, and net force on pulleys, levers and incline planes.
Curated OER
Simple Machines I - Inclined Planes, Wedges, and Screws
Fourth graders examine the physics behind and uses for inclined planes, screws, and wedges. They determine examples of how these simple machines are used in daily life. Working in three small groups, they move from station to station...
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Simple Machines - Inclined Plane, Lever
Students brainstorm ways of using an inclined plane or lever and demonstrate using materials such as a board, fulcrum, etc. They divide into two groups and figure out to lift a crate using materials for a simple machine. Once they...
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Motion on an Inclined Plane
In this physics worksheet, students model the acceleration, velocity, and position of a cart moving up an inclined plane. They take data and determine a pattern in the data. Students also describe their findings and create an illustration.
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Inclined Plane 1
In this scientific investigation worksheet, students follow the provided procedures to create an inclined plane paper model and then respond to 1 short answer question.
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Incline Planes
In this simple machine worksheet, students explore incline planes and learn how to calculate the mechanical advantage (MA) using forces or distance. This worksheet has 14 matching, 3 fill in the blank, and 6 short answer questions.
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How do engineless planes stay aloft?
Fifth graders explore how a plane can stay aloft. In this engineless airplane flying lesson, 5th graders experiment to find how the design of a plane and Bernoulli's principle keep planes in the air. Student's create a plane and answer...
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Inclined Planes
In this inclined planes activity, students find machines at home that screw and record the object and the direction of the screw. Students find 5 machines.
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Battle of the X-Planes
Students view a video about cost of materials. They work together to develop their own backpack taking note of the cost of materials. They create an advertisement to accompany their creation. They share their ideas with the class.
Teach Engineering
The Advantage of Machines
Show your students how to make their work easier. The first lesson in a series of 10 introduces the class to work and the way simple machines can be make work easier. The simple machines scholars can find in everyday items are inclined...
US Department of Energy
Go Far Cars Ramp: A Basic Ramp with Four Height Settings
Precise measurements make the job easier! One of the challenges when using an inclined plane for testing comes from pupils not using exact measurements. They often rely on books that slide or different ramp lengths when experimenting. By...
Teach Engineering
Building-Testing-Improving Paper Airplanes: Head's Up!
Take foldables to all new heights. Pupils build and fly different types of paper airplanes in the 14th portion of a 22-part unit on aviation. Groups collect data on distance and flight time for each plane and compare the data from the...
Curated OER
Welcome to the Wonderful World of Machines
Designed for a lower elementary school classroom, this presentation on simple machines is a wonderful way to introduce this topic. The resource begins by identifying and defining the six types of simple machines, and then goes on to...
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Buoyancy and Viscosity
Some of these beautiful diagrams should help your students understand the connections between pressure and flight. Pressure and density are also discussed, and a number of links are included to give fantastic interactive examples of...
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Pilot Takes Off in Kid-Built Plane
Students read a current events news story an answer vocabulary and comprehension questions. In these real world lessons, student use the internet to watch video clips, read blogs, and research pertaining to the planes and pilots. Letter...
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Learning the Dissecting Planes
Middle schoolers explore dissecting planes. In this biology lesson plan, students learn the basic vocabulary used in dissection, learn how to orient themselves on a three dimensional figure, and develop the manual dexterity necessary to...
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Simple Machines - Museum of Science and Industry
In this museum student guide worksheet, students make a mini-book about simple machines to be used during a visit to the Museum of Science and Industry. They locate the exhibits that demonstrate the wedge, inclined plane, screw, lever,...
Curated OER
Simple Machines Stations!
Fourth graders investigate the principles and uses of an inclined plane, screw, and wedge and identify examples of simple machines. They rotate through three experiment stations, complete a worksheet for each station, and read a handout...
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Engineering - Solid Rock to Building Block
Students role-play as engineers designing wedge tools. They devise methods for shaping quarry rocks into pyramid blocks. Following a teacher demonstration, they use materials such as soap, clay, and foam for blocks and wood, plastic,...
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Do the Twist...(Learning about Screws)
Young scholars investigate how screws are a twisted incline plane. They observe the teacher screw a screw into wood and participate in a class discussion. Next, they make and test a prediction about how the spacing of the threads on a...
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Objects Race 500
Students explore the concept of "shape affects speed" through a series of experiments. In this physics lesson, students participate in an experiment in which various objects are released on an inclined plane. Speed and distance are...
Curated OER
Distances Between Stars
In this distance between stars worksheet, students use the 3-dimensional distance formula and Cartesian coordinates to find the distances of 10 given stars from the sun. They also determine which constellation each star belongs to and...