Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ring Around the Rosie

For Teachers 5th - 7th
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Household Tools

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
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.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simple Machines

For Teachers 4th
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...
Worksheet
Curated OER

The Lever Family

For Students 9th - 12th
In this lever instructional activity, students determine the ideal mechanical advantage for different classes of levers. This instructional activity has 6 problems to solve.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Science-- "Moving the World?"- Learning About Levers

For Students 4th - 5th
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Electromagnetic Crane

For Teachers 9th - 11th
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Building the Car (Mechanics and Motion)

For Teachers 10th - 12th
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Inventor's Workshop

For Teachers 6th - 8th
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wheelies

For Teachers 6th - 7th
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tops: Angular Motion

For Teachers K - 2nd
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tools and Machines for Work: Saving your Energy

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Learners consider how tools and machines can make work easier. They examine specific tools for making work easier.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Challenger's Lost Lessons - The Lost Simple Machines Lesson

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It's So Simple

For Teachers 5th - 8th
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Supersonic Spies

For Teachers 6th - 10th
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...
PPT
Curated OER

ChalkBoard Challenge

For Teachers 5th - 7th
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Simple Machines Activity

For Teachers 4th
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Can You Make of It?

For Teachers K - 3rd
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.
Lesson Plan
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Simple Machines

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Young scholars discover that simple machines reduce the effort required in a task.  In this simple machines lesson students see demonstrations of simple machines. 
Worksheet
Curated OER

Simple Machines Alphabet Activity

For Students 2nd - 3rd
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.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Science Review for Grade 3 (3.5)

For Students 3rd
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.
Lesson Plan
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Simple Machines

For Teachers 8th
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...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Advanced Matching - Car Parts

For Students 9th - Higher Ed
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.
Lesson Plan
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Magnetic Car

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
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...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Pulleys

For Students 6th - 8th
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.