• Example: pencil sharpener composed of a wheel and axle, inclined plane, and wedge

Tools
Students will understand the impact tools (and machines) have on human society both historically and presently. Specifically, students will understand how tools make our lives easier.

Sketching Gadget Anatomy
Students will engage in close observation and sketching lead to a better understanding of how machines work.

Simple Machine Experiments
Students will understand how tools make-work easier.

Simple Machines Unit Plan
This unit contains fourteen lessons including a class quiz.

Putting the “Simple” In Simple Machines
This six lesson unit introduces students to simple machines that make our lives easier by helping us do our work. Through observation and hands-on activities, students will identify six tools that are combined and used in everyday machines to help make work easier.

Exploring Simple Machines
This WebQuest will help students identify different types of simple machines so that they can invent their own machines.

Simple Machines
This set of activities expand the students’ knowledge of the usefulness of the six basic simple machines, allowing them to see how important they really are to today’s world.

Simple: Now Compound (post-visit)
This lesson focuses on the process of combining two or more simple machines to form a compound machine.

Simple Machines
Students will identify simple machines, classify simple and compound machines, and name body parts that can be used as simple machines.

Solving Problems Using Simple Machines
This lesson uses the familiar story of the three pigs and the big bad wolf to explore how the wolf could have used simple machines to catch the three pigs.

Simple Machines Make the World Go Round
Students will use the Internet to locate information on various simple machines.

Systems 1: Simple Machines
Students will explore the parts of a system and engage in troubleshooting and design.
 

EdHead’s Simple Machines Interactive game in which students locate and identify simple and compound machines.

MIKids.com List of simple machine activities

Work is Simple With Simple Machines Students participating in this project will investigate simple machines and their usefulness in everyday life.

Marvelous Machines This is a series of experiments about simple machines: levers, wheels and inclined planes.

Simple Machines Information about simple machines

Moving Along With Simple Machines Facts on simple machines

Science Online A must see! Great site for links to Blueprint Skills, Lesson Plans, Topical Sites, Interactive Websites for Students and Worksheets

Science Clips You will find an alphabetical list of science interactive movie clips.

Simple Machines This website has information and online activities for simple machines.

Suggestions for English Language Learners (ELLs):
(E/B=Entering/Beginning, D=Developing, E=Expanding)

E/B: Students will make and label a volcano;D: ...and will give an oral explanation of volcanic activity;E: ...and will give both an oral and written report using reference texts and scientific vocabulary. 
E/B: Students will make a collage or display depicting the use of wheels.
E/B: Students will view a demonstration and then examine simple tools (i.e.fork, blender, egg beater, rolling pin). Students will make a magazine collage depicting various tools, then label the work they do; D: Students will break into small groups and brainstorm a list of things that use energy to do work (i.e. pencil, scissors, clock, etc.); E: Students will break into small groups and classify objects that do work by chemical, electrical and mechanical energy.
E/B: Students will draw and label the six forms of simple machines. Then, working in pairs, will design and make a compound machine; D: ...and will identify the specific use of each component of their compound machine; E: ...and will present their creations and their use to the class.
D: Students will create a timeline depicting the history of the wheel.
E: Students will use creative writing to describe a world without wheels.

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