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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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Household Tools
Students explore parts of a system. In this simple machines lesson plan, students discover that simple machines are composed of two or more systems. Students examine household tools and assess the parts of the system.
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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 Lever Family
In this lever instructional activity, students determine the ideal mechanical advantage for different classes of levers. This instructional activity has 6 problems to solve.
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Science-- "Moving the World?"- Learning About Levers
In this levers worksheet, students read a one page information text about the three classes of levers. Students then analyze 10 pictures of simple machines and circle the fulcrum point. Students classify each machine according to the...
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The Electromagnetic Crane
Students explore electromagnetism, simple machines and the design process. They use the concepts of electromagnetism to design and build a device that uses an electromagnet, a pulley and a lever using the provided Engineering Design...
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Building the Car (Mechanics and Motion)
Students design and begin building a car out of K'NEX parts after a class discussion on the components of the car, the constraints and goals of the design, the type of testing that will be performed, and a demonstration of a basic...
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Inventor's Workshop
Learners explore the six simple machines that are the basis for all  mechanical devices. In this physics lesson, students choose one simple  machine to research and then find a complex machine it is apart of.  Learners examine Leonardo...
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Wheelies
Pupils design wheels for a coaster car to travel varying terrain. In this motion and friction lesson plan, students discuss friction and motion and test wooden wheels on a track. Pupils then brainstorm how to increase friction and bring...
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Tops: Angular Motion
Learners observe different ways that objects spin. For this physics lesson, students observe several objects spinning and use the new vocabulary words "rotate" and "revolve" to describe how the objects spin. The lesson culminates in a...
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Tools and Machines for Work: Saving your Energy
Learners consider how tools and machines can make work easier. They examine specific tools for making work easier.
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Challenger's Lost Lessons - The Lost Simple Machines Lesson
Students investigate the characteristics of simple machines. In this simple machine instructional activity, students investigate work as a product of applying constant force. They answer questions about what happens on Earth and what may...
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It's So Simple
Students use basic materials to create four simple machines. In this introduction to simple machines lesson, students are given four different scenarios that require a simple machine in order to solve. The students use devices such as a...
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Supersonic Spies
Learners analyze a simple machine and use "reverse engineering" to create an exact replica.  They interpret incomplete information to build a simple wheel-and-axle machine. Students discuss how building a machine activity correlates to...
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ChalkBoard Challenge
This is a nicely designed jeopardy game with the categories animals, space, rocks, simple machines, and weather available for 5 values. There are some non-essential sound effects included.  The links work and you can return to the...
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A Simple Machines Activity
Fourth graders observe examples of simple machines found in the school, playground, and work environment. In this simple machines lesson, 4th graders review simple machines by viewing three web sites. Students tour the school and grounds...
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What Can You Make of It?
Young scholars investigate the various uses of a paper cup. For this scientific inquiry lesson, students investigate various ways to use a paper cup by identifying its characteristics. Young scholars sketch their discovery.
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Simple Machines
Young scholars discover that simple machines reduce the effort required in a task.  In this simple machines lesson students see demonstrations of simple machines. 
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Simple Machines Alphabet Activity
In this simple machines learning exercise, students put the names of simple machines in alphabetical order. Students put 6 names of simple machines in alphabetical order.
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Science Review for Grade 3 (3.5)
In this science review for grade 3 (3.5) learning exercise, 3rd graders answer 25 multiple choice questions in standardized test format about fossils, simple machines and heat transfer.
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Simple Machines
Eighth graders work together in groups to introduce themselves to the six types of simple machines. They are to record what the machine does, its mechanical advantage and identify real world situations in which they are used. They...
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Advanced Matching - Car Parts
In this car parts worksheet, students draw a line from the various car parts to the definitions. There are 14 words to define on this worksheet.
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Magnetic Car
In this magnetic car worksheet, students learn how to use simple household items to create a magnetic car.  Students learn that magnets have two poles and when the same poles face each other it causes a force of repulsion which moves the...
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Pulleys
In this simple machines worksheet, students learn about pulleys. They then answer the 11 questions on the page. The answers are on the last page of the packet.