Inventions and Simple Machines Presentations and Field Trip Ideas
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Inventions and Simple Machines Unit: Inventor Presentations and Field Trip Ideas
My lessons are geared toward 3rd-4th grade level children and their siblings. These are lessons I created to do with a weekly homeschool co-op. We meet each week for 2 ½ hours and have 17 children between the ages of 1-13. Even if you're not meeting with a co-op, you can still use these fun lessons with your family or classroom!
If you'd like more information on how you can start your own homeschool co-op or if you're curious how I operate my co-op, check out my lens: How to Start a Homeschool Co-op.
Inventor Presentations
For our end of the unit project, please have your child present on his/her assigned inventor. Dressing up as the inventor, bringing props (recreations of his/her inventions), and/or drawings are optional but will make the presentation more memorable.Assigned Inventors:
Eli Whitney
John Deere
Samuel Colt
Elias Howe
Samuel F.B. Morse
Alexander Graham Bell
Thomas Edison
Karl Benz
Charles Babbage
John Holland
Henry Ford
Orville and Wilbur Wright
George Eastman
Simple Machines Song
Sing Simple Machines Song (Tune: "Yankee Doodle")(Variation of this song.)
When it's moved by force we call it work,
but here's what I've been told:
Use any simple machine to help and ease that heavy load.
CHORUS: Wheel and axle, pulley, wedge
Screw, inclined plane, lever
When you learn to use simple machines
You'll show you are so clever.
The inclined plane is like a ramp,
a ladder, stairs, or hill.
Increase the distance =
reduce the work.
Mechanical Advantage thrill.
The wedge is used to separate,
lift, or hold in place.
You use a wedge to cut your cakes,
Long and narrow = less force it takes.
Our levers come three different ways,
depending on the fulcrum.
Lift, squeeze, cut, pull, haul, or toss
to get all of that work done.
The screw just turns to do its job
- like opening your juice.
Or use the screw to hold things tight,
so that they won't get loose.
The wheel and axle turns around
to help you get things going:
Uphill, downhill, straight ahead,
your force or distance growing.
The pulley uses cord or ropes or even chains or strings.
Pull longer distance
With less force
To lift enormous things.
CHORUS: Wheel and axle, pulley, wedge
Screw, inclined plane, lever
When you learn to use simple machines
You'll show you are so clever.
Lunch and Simple Machines Recipes
After the presentations, we ate a pot luck lunch together. If desired, you can make inventor/simple machine-themed foods. Here are some ideas to inspire you:Screw-Shaped Pasta (Rotini) Salad
Light Bulb Cookies
Tuna and Wheel and Axle Shaped Pasta (Rotelle) Salad
Extra Cheesy Mozzarella Wedges
Chocolate Wagon Wheel Cookies
Carrot and Celery Stick Levers (No Recipe Needed)
Field Trips
As a family we went to our state state history museum that includes many machines of earlier eras on which we were able to easily identify many simple machines. My boys especially loved the orange packing machine. We got to do some chores on a working 1800's-era farm.. The boys got to really feel how screws and wheels and axles help with work as they ground corn and ran wet laundry through a wringer. We also went to our museum of art and science which has many fun simple machine demos like a lever tug-of-war game and a pulley chair that allows you to lift yourself. Favorite Books & Series on Individual Inventors
My Inventions and Simple Machines Lessons
Konos Curriculum
Would you like to teach this way every day?
Konos CurriculumI use Konos Curriculum as a springboard from which to plan my lessons. It's a wonderful curriculum and was created by moms with active boys!
Konos Home School Mentor
If you're new to homeschooling or in need of some fresh guidance, I highly recommend Konos' HomeSchoolMentor.com program! Watch videos on-line of what to do each day and how to teach it in this great hands-on format!
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Who do you think is/was the greatest inventor of all time and why?
Or just let me know you dropped by. I love getting feedback from you!
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I-sparkle
May 20, 2011 @ 10:43 pm | delete
- This has to be one of the best interactive teaching programs that I have seen. Great work on this lens. Much continued success.
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Evelyn_Saenz
May 20, 2011 @ 10:00 am | delete
- I love the simple machines song as well as the simple machines recipes. Hands-on learning is the most memorable kind of learning.
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by iijuan12
I was an 8th Grade American History teacher and now I am a homeschooling mom of 5. I love finding activities that appeal to kinestic learners, storybo... more »
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