Lesson Plans from Classroom Flyer: Sponsored by The Learning Company's School Division

Motion, Energy and Simple machines This unit explores Newton's Laws of Motion in detail, and then solidifies the learning experience with several hands-on experiments.

A World in Motion Teaching Kit This free teaching kit features multiple resources for grades 4 - 6 educators in teaching about force, motion, gravity, levers, inclined planes, etc. It has three levels, one for each grade, with Teacher Directed Learning Cards,videos, posters, Think Tank activities, teacher guides, sequence charts, parent guides, lesson plans, stickers and certificates. In order to obtain the free kit, teachers must enlist an engineer or a scientist as a partner. Registration forms can be faxed or mailed in; allow three weeks for delivery.

Introduction to Mechanisms This unit provides extensive coverage and advanced study lessons on simple machines and mechanisms.

Exploratorium Snack Science I admit that not all of these experiments build or revolve around machines. But--they all set out to build devices and mechanisms of some kind, all extremely brilliant! and providing a wide variety of FUN learning experiences!

Work is Simple with Simple Machines Unit Besides being able to identify simple machines, students will come to understand the nature of force, effort and work. They will also participate in an internet search for machines, and design and construct a simple or complex machine of their choice. Click on each hypertext word under Classroom Activities to access the lesson and activity for that particular concept.

Simple Machines Webquest In this webquest unit, students will define simple machines, learn how simple machines work together to make compound machines, investigate inventors and finally invent their own complex machine. A work-with-partner project.

Build Induction Motor By now your students understand quite a bit about machines, and have moved on from simple machines to create complex mechanisms of their own. Now here's a challenge, and a pretty cool project! Have them build a squirrel cage or induction motor, following the instructions on this page.

Leonardo's Inventor's Workshop We all know that Leonardo da Vinci was a genius with the paintbrush, but did you also know that he was the first to systematically define machine parts and write explanations of how they function? He also tried to combine various machine parts to create a more complex or improved machine. Read about his works here, and have your students try the classroom activity: Sketching Gadget Anatomy. After completing this assignment, they will be ready for the challenge of Be Inventive! where they can design and create machines for specific challenges.

Nasa Robots! This site offers a series of lesson plans on that fascinating subject, robots! There are many activities to try here, along with the why what how explanations. The try-its go way beyond the pulleys and gears to understanding how robots are now programmed, and how this helps researchers such as NASA.

Understanding Leonardo Homepage This site provides a wonderful resource for both students and teachers alike. It provides information on machines, and especially Leonardo's futuristic inventions. It also includes several interactive activities, such as exploring linear perspective, or investigating aerial perspectives. Teacher notes are excellent, and provide a starting point for exploring this site as a possible addendum unit to simple machines.

Simple Machine Page for Kids Students will examine and understand the pulley, the wedge, an inclined plane, etc. and learn how to make their own! Elementary level.

Simple Machine Experience Need some in-class activities to demonstrate a pulley? Here are over 20 activities for early elementary classes, designed to examine and understand the workings of such things as springs, friction, gears, pulleys and inclined planes.

Identifying Simple Machine Lessons This sample lesson plan is addressed to grade three, and looks at simple machines with an eye to creative description and writing exercises.

The Mechanis Exhibit at the Franklin Institute At this online exhibit, see how the simple components of machines work together to create complex functions. Also view a Quicktime movie on the Foucault Pendulum, and try activities for early elementary students based on the pulley and the lever.

Overcoming Friction: Students will create an experiment and record their findings, using this worksheet, to discover the properties of friction and rolling mechanisms.

Springs: Not only will students understand the idea behind springs, they will also become familiar with predicting outcomes and the scientific method.

Levers: Through a set of activities revolving around first, second, and third class levers, students will be able to identify their parts, experiment with distance changes and outcomes, and recognize the class of lever being used.

Science and Math Activities with Simple Machines Designed to meet standards: All of these extension activities with Simple Machines will meet standards requirements; all graded accordingly.

Springs and Directions--Forces at Work This online exhibit from BBC will enlist interactive help to solve push, pull, directions, and the work of springs. Once the interactive exhibit is completed, students can progress on to a fact sheet, followed by a test.

A Workshop on Simple Machines: A series of activities on different simple machines will aptly demonstrate how simple machines make work easier, and just how they work.

Inclined Plane Worksheet: Students will find objects which screw, record them and track their direction on this worksheet, geared to primary grades.

Simple Machines for Kids: With simple materials, primary students will be able to build and thus better understand the pulley, the lever, the inclined plane, the wedge, and other simple machines.

Pulleys: Students in grades one through three can use this simple experiment to better understand how pulleys can make work easier.

Machines in Action Worksheet Students will become keen scientific observers in order to find what objects around them fulfill various functions, and then draw pictures to illustrate that function.

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