ScienceThird Grade

It's Really Quite Simple

Description
Students learn about simple machines (levers, inclined planes, wheel and axle, wedge, pulley, and screw) and how these devices make work easier.

Themes
Striving, Determination, Diversity, Respect, Civic Responsibility

Core Curriculum
3030-0401 Students will use simple machines and demonstrate their understanding by building a simple machine.
Learning Outcomes
Students Will:
Use different types of simple machines and show how they make work easier
Identify various simple machines
Classify examples of machines as levers, inclined planes, wheel and axle, wedge, pulley, or screw
Demonstrate how machines make work easier
Combine two or more simple machines to perform a task
Describe the historical stages of the development of a modern machine.

Activity 1: Work and Simple Machines

Preparation
Make arrangements for student use of the school computer lab for research. Instruct students on chart and poster construction. Provide materials that may be helpful for the projects.

Tools and Resources
The following Internet resources may provide additional information.
Teacher's Resource Book
Internet Resources
Simple Machines

Instruction
Discuss with the class the six types of simple machines: lever, inclined plane, wheel and axle, wedge, pulley, and screw.

Look around the school and classroom. Ask students to find examples of the ways in which simple machines have been used. Bring in simple objects for students to examine. Examples might include: a can opener, hammer, anything with wheels, etc.

Perform a demonstration showing how machines make work easier. Discuss the historical stages of the development of modern machines.

Ask students to think about the sports that they like to play. Explain that each sport takes special equipment. List the equipment used with the student's favorite sports.

Discuss the Olympic Winter Games which will be coming to Utah in 2002.
Use the board to make a list of the sports that will be included in these events.
Next to each sport on the list, ask students to name the main equipment needed for that sport. (Example: downhill skiing takes ski's, poles and boots.)
Finally, challenge students to identify at least one of the simple machines in the equipment used in each of the listed sports. Write the name of the machine in a third column.
Examine the classroom sports equipment or bring some to the classroom. Students might examine an ice skate, or snowboard to see how these items involve simple machines. A ski boot might create an interesting discussion.

Discuss how the equipment used in the events are also simple machines. For example, a ski jump is an example of an inclined plane.

Make a poster about one of the events and the equipment used.

Discuss why the simple machines used by athletes must be in top working condition.
In the summer of 2000, the bobsled blades of the American Bobsled Team were stolen. Although they were later recovered, it could have been a very big problem for the team if they had not found them. Explain why the blades are so important to the bobsledding team?
Assessment
Students will:
Identify the ways in which at least three sports utilize simple machines
Draw a sample Olympic Winter Games sport labeling the simple machines used during the sport
Extensions
Discuss with students how simple machines are used in the Olympics and how they have evolved. (For example events that were once timed with a stopwatch now use electronic sensors to time athletes.)

Students answer questions pertaining to the 2002 Winter Olympics and simple machines.

Students compose a biography about an Olympian explaining how the athlete's determination and self-discipline made him or her excel the field(s) of competition.

Light the Fire Within TM © 2000 SLOC
© 2001 GIFT Foundation

- Counter -