Students participating in this project will investigate simple machines
and their usefulness in everyday life.
OUTCOMES:
- Students will be able to identify each simple machine.
- Students will calculate the formulas used with simple machines.
- Students will understand the following terms: force, effort, and work.
Students will access the internet and communicate through e-mail to search
for and share information on machines.
- Students will be able to demonstrate their knowledge of simple machines
by drawing, demonstrating, and/or creating a simple or complex machine.
CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES in context...
- A machine is a device that does work. Machines do not increase the amount of work done, but they do make
work easier.
- Machines make work easier by changing force or
distance, or by changing the direction of the force.
- There are three simple machines: the lever,
the pulley, and the inclined
plane.
The wheel and axle, the wedge,
and the screw are modifications of the three simple
machines.
- A complex machine is a machine made up of two or more simple machines.
Related Language Arts activities
Standards and Benchmarks
To WORK IS SIMPLE WITH SIMPLE MACHINES
USEFUL WEB SITES
EISENHOWER NATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSE (ENC)
This is a nationally recognized source for K-12 math and science teachers,
providing a resource finder which describes all types of curriculum resources
and providing classroom-ready lessons and activities.
THOSE CRAZY LEGO SCREWS
This site provides basic information regarding the history and uses of the
screw over the centuries, including images.
INSANELY
GREAT SCIENCE WEB SITES
Provides a list of the most useful science web sites including links to
web sites of science museums worldwide.
THE BOSTON MUSEUM OF
SCIENCE
The Boston of Science Home page which includes a list of exhibits, teacher
resources, on-line exhibits, and programs.
WEB66
INTERNATIONAL WWW SCHOOL REGISTRY
Lists home pages of science schools throughout the U.S., as well as a list
of 3,500 schools worldwide.
SIMPLE
MACHINES
This site actually provides units on simple machines including criteria,
outcomes, and sample lessons.
To WORK IS SIMPLE WITH SIMPLE MACHINES
RESOURCES USED TO CREATE THIS PROJECT
- Croasdale, William, PhD., Department of Education. The University of Rhode
Island. Personal interview. August 7, 1996.
- Maton, Anthea, et al. Prentice Hall. Science: Motion, Forces, and Energy.
Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey : Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1993
- Sund, Robert B., et al. Accent on Science, Activity Book 3. Columbus,
Ohio :
Charles E. Merrill Publishing Co., 1983.
- VanCleave, Janice Pratt. Janice VanCleave's Physics for Every Kid: 101
Easy Experiments in Motion, Heat, Light, Machines, and Sound.
New
York : John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1991.
To WORK IS SIMPLE WITH SIMPLE MACHINES
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
BOOKS
- Bender, Lionel. Invention. Eyewitness Books Series. New York : Alfred
Knopf, 1991.
- Bernstein, Leonard, et al. Concepts and Challenges in Physical Science.
2nd ed. New York : Globe Book Company, Inc., 1986.
- Burton, Virginia Lee. Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel. Boston
:
Houghton Mifflin Co., 1939.
- How Things Work. Books for World Explorers Series. Washington, D.C.
:
National Geographic Society, 1987.
- Kardos, Thomas. Physical Science Labs Kit: Ready-to-Use Activities and
Worksheets for Grades 5-9. West Nyack, New York : The Center for
Applied Research in Education, 1993
- Macaulay, David. The Way Things Work. Boston : Houghton Mifflin Co.,
1988.
NON BOOK RESOURCES
- Simple Machines for Primaries. Sound filmstrip. Eye Gate Media
Inc., n.d.
- Inclined Plane, Wedge, Screw: Discovering Simple Machines. Videocassette.
United Learning, n.d.
- Macaulay, David. The Way Things Work. CD-ROM. New York: Dorling
Kindersley Multimedia, 1994.
To WORK IS SIMPLE WITH SIMPLE MACHINES
PROJECT AUTHORS:
Martha Baton, Library Media Specialist of Forest Park School,
North Kingstown, RI
batonm@ride.ri.net
Stephanie McKiernan, Second Grade Teacher at Forest Park School,
North Kingstown, RI
mckierns@ride.ri.net
Jolene Polidoro, Fifth Grade Teacher at Forest Park School,
North Kingstown, RI
polidorj@ride.ri.net
To WORK IS SIMPLE WITH SIMPLE MACHINES
More Project SMART96 Projects