Rationale:

Simple Machines play an important role in society yet students often have difficulty perceiving the importance of simple machines in everyday life.  Their understanding of the role that simple machines play is very limited.  It is believed that students’ knowledge and understanding will grow and they will begin to appreciate the importance of simple machines as they research the six simple machines and create their own invention using simple machines.

Objectives:

The Students will:

1. Use technology to locate, evaluate, and collect information from a variety of sources.
2. Employ technology to communicate their findings in and effective and meaningful way.
3. Demonstrate an awareness and understanding of simple machines (inclined plane, wedge, screw, wheel and axle, lever, pulley).
4. Recognize and identify simple machines at work.
5. Be introduced to the invention process.
6. Create their own invention and participate in an Invention Convention
7. Apply a variety of strategies during group work to solve problems and record results.

National Science Standards: Physical Science

1. As a result of these activities, students should develop an understanding of position and motion of objects

National Science Standards: Science and Technology

1. As a result of the activities in grades K-4, all students should develop an understanding of abilities of technological design.

2. As a result of the activities in grades K-4, all students should develop an understanding about science and technology.

Standards for the English Language Arts (Sponsored by the NCTE and the IRA)

1. Students conduct research on issues and interests by generating ideas and questions, and by posing problems. They gather, evaluate, and synthesize data from a variety of sources (e.g., print and nonprint texts, artifacts, people) to communicate their discoveries in ways that suit their purpose and audience.

2. Students use a variety of technological and information resources (e.g., libraries, databases, computer networks, video) to gather and synthesize information and to create and communicate knowledge.

3. Students use spoken, written, and visual language to accomplish their own purposes (e.g., for learning, enjoyment, persuasion, and the exchange of information).

Technology Foundation Standards For All Students: Basic operations concepts

1. Students demonstrate a sound understanding of the nature and operation of technology systems.

Technology Foundation Standards For All Students: Social, ethical, and human issues

1. Students practice responsible use of technology systems, information, and software.

2. Students develop positive attitudes toward technology uses that support lifelong learning, collaboration, personal pursuits, and productivity.

Technology Foundation Standards For All Students: Technology productivity tools

1. Students use technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity, and promote creativity.

Technology Foundation Standards For All Students: Technology research tools

1. Students use technology to locate, evaluate, and collect information from a variety of sources.

2. Students use spoken, written, and visual language to accomplish their own purposes (e.g., for learning, enjoyment, persuasion, and the exchange of information).

Hints and Suggestions for the Teacher

1. Keep a checklist to mark off items as each student completes them.  This way you can keep tabs on all students and ensure everyone is on track and meeting the necessary due dates.
   
2. Be sure to set aside six to nine weeks for this unit.  It is designed, as an integrated unit for Science and English and you will definitely need all of the periods devoted to these subjects.
   
3. Hands-on activities and Whole Class Lessons (WCL) need to be presented in the classroom for reinforcement of each of the simple machines and for creating the inventions.  The students will need a lot of guidance for both of these activities.  Be sure to have many concrete examples on hand.
   
4. Preview all the websites before letting your students use them.  Make sure all the links are still working and that you are familiar with how they work.  This will eliminate any frustration on both your part and the student’s parts.
   
5. A great way to introduce to on-line information is to do it as a WCL over the multimedia projector. Go through the whole project as an overview so the students are aware of what they will be doing and where they will be accessing information.  This will eliminate many of the reoccurring questions you will receive if you simply let the students “go”.
   
6. This is a great way to introduce the project.  Have the students close their eyes as you read the introduction to them.  Tell them to imagine, picture in their mind, what the world would be like without inventions like bicycles, cars, trains, planes, etc.  As an extension activity, have your students take the time to do a Minute Minder Journal and write about what they saw in a world without invention.  This is a great critical thinking activity to get the creative juices flowing.
   

Back To Top	Evaluation	Invention Convention	Simple Machines	Background Information	Home