Force - Motion / Simple Machines
2nd 9-Week Curriculum
Science Connection

• Essential Question:

• How do simple machines use force and motion to make work easier?

• How do we use simple machines?

  • What if gravity stopped?
  • How does force affect speed and motion?
  • What are simple machines?

• How do forces affect the speed and motion of objects?

  • What is force?
  • What forces affect motion and speed?

• Big Ideas:

  • Simple machines are used in everyday life to move objects and make work easier.
  • A force is any push or pull on an object
  • An object’s size and the amount of force exerted on an object affects its speed and motion
  • Force causes objects to start or stop moving or change direction
  • Gravity affects the motion of all object

Websites:

*  Simple Machine Powerpoint Study Guide

*  Simple machines make work easier for us by allowing us to push or pull over increased distances. There are SIX simple machines: http://www.mikids.com/Smachines.htm

*  http://www.coe.uh.edu/archive/science/science_lessons/scienceles1/finalhome.htm- a good review of simple machines has lesson plans and activities.

*  http://www.cosi.org/files/Flash/simpMach/sm1.swf- outstanding higher level identification of simple machines on a compound machine. Identify all the simple machines that make up a lawn mower, etc.

*  Students who need challenges- Problem Solving activities dealing with force and motion. Variety of problems listed in the site for the students to view and respond in a journal. Videostreaming- “Teams: Forces and Motion: Getting to know Newton” http://unitedstreaming.com/ This video streaming found through GBP broadcasting.

*  Good for all students http://www.edheads.org/activities/simple-machines/index.htm  Identifying the six simple machines inside a house and tool shed.

*  Great hands-on computerized game force and motion. Age 10-11    http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/10_11/forces_action.shtml

     an easy way to explore information about simple machines.

ED Heads: Identifying the six simple machines inside a house and tool shed. Good for all students.

Simple Machines Learning Site :
 a good review of simple machines has lesson plans and activities.

  Rube Goldberg

      Go to the “gallery” section and choose one of his famous cartoons. Show students the cartoon and discuss. They could try to circle and identify some simple machines. Discuss hot Goldberg made complicated machines to do very simple jobs. Students might find it interesting that there is a yearly contest to design Goldberg machines. 

In an unkown time and an uncharted place, the ASPIRE crew has accepted the challenge to assist in the completion of a city being constructed of massive stones. They must work without the advantage of modern technology. They have agreed to rely primarily on the use of the six simple machines to accomplish their mission. Before getting to work, two crew members, Harry and Pic, have used available materials to fashion themselves a tetter-totter just to give them something to do for fun.

Ladies and Gentleman . . . The Incline Plane!

Children’s Books that correlate to this unit:

• Bortz, Fred. (1995). Catastrophe! Great Engineering Failure-and Success. New York, NY: Scientific American Books for Young Readers.

Students will see engineering failures and how engineers try to find and eliminate anything that can lead to future design failures.

• Cobb, Vicki. (2004). I Fall Down. New York, NY: HarperCollins.

      This conceptually sound physical science book introduces young children to the  concepts of gravity. The concepts are reinforced through many real-life examples and fun activities that can easily be duplicated in class. The illustrations are visually appealing to the young child.

• Cobb, Vicki. (1989). Why Doesn’t the Earth Fall Up? And Other Not Such Dumb Questions about Motion. New York, NY: Dutton Children’s Books.

This book answers nine questions about motion. It explains Newton’s Laws of motion, gravity and other principles of motion.

• Llewellyn, Claire. (2004). And Everyone Shouted, “Pull”: A First Look at Forces and Motion. Picture Window Books.

     This is a very basic introduction for the young child.