Colorado Unit Writing Project
Simple Machines
Planning an elementary science unit has never been simpler! These twelve lessons guide young scientists through an exploration of simple machines and their many uses in the real world before asking them to apply their learning in the...
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Household Tools
Young scholars explore parts of a system. In this simple machines lesson, students discover that simple machines are composed of two or more systems. Young scholars examine household tools and assess the parts of the system.
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Simple Machines in the Home
Students explore simple machines used in the home. In this simple machines lesson plan, students discover that many household items are constructed from simple machines. Students interact with nutcrackers, peelers, egg slicers, and egg...
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Simple Machines
Students research simple machines. In this simple machines instructional activity, students explore the many types of simple machines such as the lever, pulley, and screw. Students discover simple machines in the classroom.
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Simple Machines
Students investigate simple machines. In this simple machines lesson, students explore how tools increase productivity and make life easier. Students experiment with simple tools and discover the parts of each tool.
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Simple Machines
Fourth graders choose a simple machine and write about they way they believe it will work. Students experiment, write down procedures used and record observations. They will find a picture of the machine and add it to their report.
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Levers and Pulleys and Gears, Oh My!
Students explore the difference between compound and simple machines in this six lessons of this unit. The purpose and importance of a variety of types of simple machines and the effects of friction are investigated.
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Simple Machines
In this science worksheet, students focus upon the concept of bicycle gears and develop the answers to the 2 questions at the bottom of the page.
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Simple Machines
Fourth graders discover the principles and uses of gears noting that they can be used to change the direction of motion or the speed of an object. They may also change the force and/or distance through which an object turns. They then...
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The Bicycle as a System
In this bicycle as a system worksheet, students are assigned a subsystem of a bicycle, such as the wheel, the brakes and steering, or the frame. Each group of students identifies the parts, the function, the input, and the output of the...
Purdue University
Simple Machines
What's the best way to use a simple machine to solve a real-world problem? Scholars construct their own simple and complex machines to explore the concepts of work and force. They discuss examples of simple machines they have found in...
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Egyptians as Engineers
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.
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Peak Performance
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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Text for Dictation: Transport
In this dictation text worksheet, students take dictation on a selection using vocabulary associated with driving. The text is geared towards those who are learning to drive and learning English.
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Mechanical Monsters
Young scholars experiment try to build a Lego car. For this physical science lesson students present and demonstrate the vehicle that they constructed.
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A Bicycle Trip
In this bicycle activity, students learn how the gears of a bicycle transfer energy. This activity has 2 short answer questions and 5 problems to solve.
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Adding Power to the Car
Students add a gear system to a car they built out of K'NEX parts in a previous lesson. After the gear system is added, a rubber band power system is added to the car in order to propel the car.
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TE Activity: Racing with the Sun - Creating a Solar Car
Students use a purchased kit to build a solar powered car. They connect a solar photovoltaic panel to a motor which runs the car forward and backward. They determine how to wire the car to move in both directions.
Teach Engineering
Racing With the Sun - Creating a Solar Car
Here's an exciting and innovative lesson that's sure to get your charges fired up! In it, they use engineering design principles to construct and test a fully solar powered car. One caveat: the kits that each group needs to make their...
National Energy Education Development Project
Exploring Hydropower
In 2006, about 20 percent of the world's electricity was generated from hydroelectric power. In the presentation, scholars review the water cycle and gravitational energy to begin to understand how humans harness the power of water. They...
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Pedal Power Goes Global
Students role play as a consulting firm that has been hired to research various countries and determine if and how the Pedal Power bicycle company should sell its bicycles abroad.
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Ring Around the Rosie
Students examine the concept of angular momentum and its correlation to mass, velocity, and radius. They listen to a teacher-led lecture, conduct an experiment with rotational inertia, angular momentum, and rotation speed by making...
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John Fitch: Pioneer Steamboat Inventor
Students explore the transportation revolution brought about through the use of steam power to move boats over water. They practice note taking skills by taking notes from an article.
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Simple Machines
Students engage in a instructional activity that explores the concept of simple machines. They view a powerpoint media presentation and then are introduced to adult volunteers for the instructional activity. Each volunteer is at a...