Thematic Units - Simple Machines

Simple Machines

You will find various Lesson Plans on the top portion of this page.
Further down, you will find Web Sites.
We have a page full of Books that you can order directly from Amazon.com!


Lesson Plans

Exploring Simple Machines (WebQuest) Grade 4
The machines we use every day help to make our work easier. This WebQuest will help you identify different types of simple machines so that you can invent your own machines.

Physics-Based Lesson Plans Grades Various
Find additional simple machine lessons here.

Simple Machines Grade 3
This is great unit in PDF form, so you need Adobe Acrobat Reader to access it. If you don't have A.R. click HERE for a free download. (This is a great program to have on your computer!)

Simple Machines Grades 2-4
The students will be able to identify the six simple machines and how they are used in our lives. They will gain a basic understanding of the use of force and effort."

Simple Machines with Robotics Grades 3-4
In this site, you will find everything we know about the environment on LEGO Centauri and the equipment available to build a robot to help the LEGOnauts.

Work and Machines Grade 3
"Students will use simple machines and demonstrate their understanding by building a simple machine."

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Web Sites

Bill Nye
Resources under the "Home Demo" link.

Machines and Mechanisms Curriculum Content
LEGO's site...Everything you need to start STEM learning using the Machines & Mechanisms solutions for both elementary and middle school.

Edheads
Simple Machines Activities: Learn about simple and compound machines while you explore the House and Tool Shed! (Lesson Plans & Resources)

Exploring Leonardo Page
"Explore this site and learn about this fascinating scientist, inventor, and artist."

Introduction to Mechanisms
Here is some detailed information geared toward teachers or older students.

The Official Rube Goldberg Site
"Best known for his "INVENTION" cartoons that use a string of outlandish tools, people, plants and steps to accomplish everyday simple tasks in the most complicated way, Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist Rube Goldberg's drawings point out that people are often overwhelmed by over complicating their lives."

Simple Machines
A ThinkQuest project all about machines.

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Books

The Teacher's Corner has hand selected a bunch of books for our Simple Machines Unit that you can find at great prices on Amazon.com

These books are out-of-print, but may be found at the library:

Bathtubs, Slides, Roller Coaster Rails : Simple Machines
by Christopher Lampton

Bathtubs, Slides, Roller Coaster Rails : Simple Machines That Are Really Inclined Planes (Gateway Simple Machines)
by Christopher Lampton

Cro Knows: All About Levers, Pulleys, Gears, Wheels, Bridges, and Scales
by Gail Herman

Finding out about simple machines
by Gene Darby

Forces and Machines (Investigate and Discover Series)
by Robert Gardner

Hands on Science Simple Machines
by John Carratello

Machines and How They Work
by Harvey Weiss

Marbles, Roller Skates, Doorknobs : Simple Machines That Are Really Wheels (Gateway)
by Christopher Lampton

Projects With Machines (Simple Science Projects)
by John Williams

Sailboats, Flagpoles, Cranes : Using Pulleys As Simple Machines (Gateway Simple Machines)
by Christopher Lampton

Seesaws, Nutcrackers, Brooms : Simple Machines That Are Really Levers (Gateway)
by Christopher Lampton

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