Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Aerodynamic Design

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students research aerodynamic design. In this aerodynamic design lesson plan, students investigate wind resistance on a car. Students explore the reasons necessary for aerodynamic design.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It's Your Wellness

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students define wellness and take a Life Expectancy Survey. They discuss factors that affect wellness, view a Powerpoint presentation on wellness, and design a mouse pad that demonstrates how to avoid negative personal risk behaviors.
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.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simple Machines make work easier.

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine how simple machine work can make work easier.  In this machines lesson students complete an activity that shows them what makes up a machine, and how to measure displacement and velocity. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simply Unique

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners identify, compare and contrast simple machines and their functions. They work together in groups to complete experiments using the simple machines. They write in their journals to reflect on the lesson.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Away You Go

For Teachers K - 5th
Pupils build Lego cars which have two different types of tire surfaces. They roll them down ramps that have both rough and smooth surfaces to determine how friction affects the car as it rolls.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pine Wood Derby Prompt

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders use Newton's Laws of Motion to assist a troop in making a winning car in the Pine Wood Derby.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Finding Simple Machines in Farm Machinery

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students identify simple machines and how they must work together to form a piece of equipment used in agriculture. They create a diagram of a piece of farm equipment and write about two of the simple machines they drew.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Third Grade Science Multiple Choice Practice

For Students 3rd
In this 3rd grade science worksheet, 3rd graders complete a total of 25 multiple choice questions related to grade 3 concepts. An answer key is given.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Make Life Simple

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students examine six simple machines by looking at pictures of real world objects.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Properties of Matter (Biomaterial Through Nanotechnology)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students investigate friction between different surfaces. In this physics lesson, students research biomaterials that can reduce friction. They calculate efficiency using a mathematical formula.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to Lego Engineering

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Students examine engineering by utilyzing legos.
Handout
Science Struck

Science Struck: Simple Machine: All About the Wheel and Axle

For Students 9th - 10th
Describes some history of the wheel and axle, how it works, the formula for calculating its mechanical advantage, and some applications of the wheel and axle.
Handout
Scholastic

Scholastic: Dirtmeister's Science Reporters: Simple Machines: The Wheel and Axle

For Teachers 9th - 10th
An in-depth explanation of the wheel and axle from Scholastic. Also provides several examples and a picture for understanding.
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Levers That Lift

For Teachers 6th - 8th
This lesson introduces students to three of the six simple machines used by many engineers: the lever, the pulley, and the wheel-and-axle. In general, engineers use the lever to magnify the force applied to an object, the pulley to lift...
Handout
Integrated Publishing

Integrated Publishing: The Wheel & Axle

For Students 9th - 10th
A solid chapter explanation of the wheel & axle simple machine. Examples, the basic math, explanation of mechanical advantage, drawings, solved problem. Use the Next button. There are four pages in this chapter.
Activity
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Acceleration of a Wheel and Axle

For Students 9th - 10th
A lab investigation of an accelerating object can be difficult without motion sensors or computer photogates. The accelerating object can gain velocity in such a way that it moves a great distance in a short time.
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: The Magician's Catapult

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In this activity, students reinforce their understanding of compound machines by building a catapult. This compound machine consists of a lever and a wheel-and-axel. Catapults have been designed by engineers for a variety of purposes -...
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Wheeling It In!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In an open-ended design activity, students use everyday materials (milk cartons, water bottles, pencils, straws, candy) to build a small-scale transportation device. They incorporate the use of a wheel and axle, and lever into their...
Unit Plan
Sophia Learning

Sophia: Simple Machines: Wheel and Axel: Lesson 1

For Students 9th - 10th
This lesson will explain how to calculate the mechanical advantage of a wheel and axel. It is 1 of 2 in the series titled "Simple Machines: Wheel and Axel."
Unit Plan
Sophia Learning

Sophia: Simple Machines: Wheel and Axel: Lesson 2

For Students 9th - 10th
This lesson will explain how to calculate the mechanical advantage of a wheel and axel. It is 2 of 2 in the series titled "Simple Machines: Wheel and Axel."
Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Wheel

For Students 9th - 10th
An encyclopedia article from Wikipedia on the wheel discusses how wheels operate and travel on surfaces, and gives information on the invention and use of the wheel in ancient times. Links are also provided for additional information.
Activity
PBS

The Math of Bicycles: Wheel Figure This Out (Grades 4 7)

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Several good activities here. Look particularly at Wheel Figure It Out (which is the opening page) and Gearing Up. There are answers to the very good questions at the bottom of each.
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Simple Machines and Modern Day Engineering Analogies

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students apply the mechanical advantages and problem-solving capabilities of six types of simple machines (wedge, wheel and axle, lever, inclined plane, screw, pulley) as they discuss modern structures in the spirit of the engineers and...