Simple Machines (3rd grade, SOL 3.2)
Erin Conner, Catherine Burton, Sarah Davies
Simple Machines
Purpose:
Today is the first in a series of lessons that involves learning about simple machines.
In this lesson, we will introduce the different types of simple machines as well as
their purpose and functions. We will also go over different tasks that can be made
easier by using simple machines. This will give students a basic idea of what simple
machines are in order to describe them in detail in the coming lessons.
Science 3.2 The student will investigate and understand simple machines and their uses. Key
concepts include:
a) purpose and function of simple machines;
b) types of simple machines;
c) compound machines; and
d) examples of simple and compound machines found in the school, home, and work
environments.
Objectives:
● Given a worksheet, TSWBAT identify the different types and summarize the
purpose of simple machines, with 100% accuracy (6 out of 6) on the worksheet.
Procedure:
Introduction
● Ask the students if they have ever used a seesaw at the playground or if they
have ever walked up a ramp to get to the slide and respond to their answers.
● Introduce that these are examples of simple machines.
● Check for prior knowledge by giving the students a worksheet that contains the
names of simple machines and other objects. I will tell the students that this is
not a graded assignment it is for the teacher to see what they know. (tactile)
● Watch a video clip and they are to listen for the different types of simple
machines. Then, I will play the video through the first 5-10 minutes where Bill
Nye introduces the purpose of simple machines and each one. (auditory and
visual) (link to video clip is in materials)
Development:
●
Once the clip is finished, I will ask the students raise their hand and name the
types they heard in the video as I write them on the board. (visual and
auditory)
●
Ask them if remember what Bill Nye said about how simple machines help in
everyday life. (auditory)
●
Questions to ask during discussion: Was there anything in the video that you
are familiar with or have seen before? (they may say catapult or seesaw), Who
do you think uses simple machines? (parents, construction workers, Bill Nye)
What are some examples of times you would use simple machines? (when you
are trying to move something heavy) (auditory)
For strugglers: I will pass out view finders (square piece of paper with a square hole
cut out of it) so that the student can easily see each object one by one and will not be
overwhelmed with the amount of objects on the page.
For advanced learners: I will add an extra row of “random objects” to make it a bit
more challenging to find the simple machines on the worksheet.
Summary:
●
Review all the information that we have learned about simple machines by
asking students to raise their hands
●
Remind the class that the purpose of simple machines is to make work easier
and restate each of the 6 (lever, pulley, wheel and axle, wedge, inclined plane,
screw) types of simple machines.
●
I will give them a fresh copy of the worksheet they did in the introduction with
an additional part that asks them to write down the purpose/function of simple
machines. (tactile)
●
We will go over the correct answers to the worksheet and they will correct
their work with a different colored pen. (auditory and tactile) This will be their
exit ticket for the day.
Materials:
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOxc3Bmr60A (Bill Nye video)
o Projector
o Both worksheets (attached to lesson plan)
Evaluation Part A:
●
I will assess the students’ knowledge by their participation in the first
worksheet, watching the video, answering questions during class discussion, and
the second worksheet.
● I will assess this throughout the lesson by putting names in the chart under
“got it” “working on it” and “struggling”
“Got it”
●
“Working on it”
“Struggling”
I will know the students’ “got it” if they can correctly identify 6/6 types of
simple machines and answer the function/purpose question correctly.
Evaluation Part B:
· Did your lesson accommodate/address the needs of all your learners?
· What were the strengths of the lesson?
· What were the weaknesses?
· How would you change the lesson if you could teach it again?