It’s Simple!
Demonstration Storyboard by Dot Garman
Page 1
Screen #1
Audio Narration
In this lesson you will learn about the six
types of simple machines and how they
make our lives easier. By the end of this
module you will be able to sort and label
simple machines into their correct
categories.
Visuals
Simple Machines – Lesson Objectives
Students will accurately sort and label objects into the simple machine categories.
.
Page 2
Screen #1
Audio Narration
Visuals
Simple Machines – Tools for Making Work Simple
Simple machines are devices that
make work easier for us. Without
any motorized parts, a simple
machine will increase or change the
force needed to accomplish a task.
Simple machines are all around us.
In fact, you have probably used a
simple machine today. Do you have
a bicycle? If so, the hand brake is a
simple machine called a lever. Your
bicycle chain uses a simple machine
that is called a pulley, and the tire
uses the wheel and axle simple
machine. I’m sure there are bolts on
your bicycle . . . that is the simple
machine called a screw. And if you
rode your bike over a ramp, you
used an inclined plane. Last, if you
have ever experienced a flat tire,
you could have run over a wedge
simple machine, such as a
thumbtack, nail, knife or razor.
Let’s move on to learn about each
simple machine in more detail.
Lever
Wedge
Screw
Inclined Plane
Pulley
Wheel
& Axle
Instructions for Interactivity



The screen will open with the image of the bicycle.
As each simple machine is mentioned, the item and its associated label will appear around the edge of
the bicycle.
Images and labels will appear in the following order:
1. Top left picture with label “Lever.”
2. Label “Pulley” and arrow pointing to the bike chain.
3. Label “Wheel and Axle” with arrow pointing to the wheel and axle.
4. Label “Screw” with arrow pointing to the screw on the handlebar.
5. Bottom left image with label “Inclined Plane.”
6. Top right image with label “Wedge.”
Page 3
Screen #2
Audio Narration
Visuals
Simple Machine - Lever
Let’s start with the simple machine called a
lever. A lever is a straight, solid item that is
supported against another object. The
object that supports the lever is called a
“fulcrum.”
Levers make our lives simpler by helping us
do common tasks. Did you turn on a light
switch lately? If so, you used a lever! If you
ever handed in an assignment that was
more than one page, you may have used a
lever to keep them together – a stapler. A
fun recess activity for young children is
playing on a lever called a seesaw or
teeter-totter. And we all use a very common
lever every day, the little handle that flushes
the toilet.
What other levers have you used recently?
Functional Instructions
 The screen will open with the text only.
 As each item is mentioned, it will appear on the screen. Items will appear in the
following order:
- Light Switch
- Stapler
- Seesaw
- Toilet
Page 4
Screen #3
Audio Narration
Visuals
Wedges
Now let’s talk about the simple machine
called a wedge. A wedge is used to cut,
chip, or push items apart. A wedge will
normally have at least one side that is
slanted with a narrow or sharp edge that
cuts, splits, or opens the object.
Some examples of wedges are:

Scissors

Knives

Door stops

Chisels
Functional Instructions
 The screen will open with the text only.
 As each item is mentioned, it will appear on the screen.
Page 5
Screen #4
Audio Narration
Visuals
What is a lever and what is a wedge?
Let’s take a moment to see if you can
distinguish between a lever and a wedge.
Drag each picture to the correct area.
Levers
Wedges
CA:
Nice job! You have identified different lever
and wedge simple machines.
Instructions for Interactivity
 Display items on the screen with instructions
 As students drag the items, they will snap in place if they select the correct area.
 As students drag the items, they will snap back if they select the in correct area.
 Correct answers:
Stapler and seesaw are levers.
Axe and hedge trimmers are wedges.
 When all items are correct, display CA.
Page 6
Screen #5
Audio Narration
A pulley uses grooved wheels with a rope,
cord, or chain to move objects. Pulleys
simplify our lives by allowing us to move
heavy objects or things that are in hard to
reach places. Some examples include:

Elevators

Buckets in wells

Theatre style curtains

Construction equipment
Visuals
Pulleys
Functional Instructions
 The screen will open with the text only.
 As each item is mentioned, it will appear on the screen.
Page 7
Screen #6
Audio Narration
The inclined plane is a flat surface that is
arranged at a slant. It makes life simpler by
allowing things to be moved with less effort.
Some examples include:

Ramps

Slides

Bathtubs (the bottom of the bathtub
is slanted to allow water to drain out)
Visuals
Inclined Plane
Functional Instructions
 The screen will open with the text only.
 As each item is mentioned, it will appear on the screen.
Page 8
Screen #7
Audio Narration
Visuals
Let’s do another check of your knowledge
of simple machines.

Drag the text box “inclined plane” to
the image of an inclined plane.

Drag the text box “pulley” to the
image of the pulley simple machine.
CA:
Well done! You understand what simple
machines are pulleys and inclined planes.
Inclined Plane
Pulley
Instructions for Interactivity
 Display items on the screen with instructions
 As items are moved to the correct picture, they will snap in place.
 As items are moved to incorrect pictures, they will snap back.
Correct answers are:
Handicap vehicle ramp is an inclined plane.
Construction pulley is a pulley.
 When both items are correct, display CA.
Page 9
Screen #8
Audio Narration
Visuals
Screw
Another simple machine is the screw.
Basically, it is an inclined plane wrapped
around a cylinder. They simplify our life by
holding things down or together. Some
examples of screws are:

Drill bits

Jar lid

Light bulbs
<Sketch a representation of on-screen visuals here.>>
Functional Instructions
 The screen will open with the text only.
 As each item is mentioned, it will appear on the screen.
Page 10
Screen #9
Audio Narration
The last simple machine is made up of two
parts, a wheel and an axle. The axle is a
rod that is placed through the wheel. As the
axle turns, it moves the wheel. It makes our
lives easier as it allows us to move objects
that we would not be able to move on our
own. Some examples include:

Tires on cars and bicycles.

Roller skates

Pencil sharpener
Visuals
Wheel and Axle
Functional Instructions
 The screen will open with the text only.
 As each item is mentioned, it will appear on the screen.
Page 11
Screen #10
Audio Narration
We will now pause to see if
you can distinguish between
the six simple machines. Click
on a picture and drag to the
name of the simple machine.
Visuals
Wheel and Axle
Wedge
CA:
Well done! You have
successfully identified the six
simple machines.
Inclined Plane
Pulley
Screw
Lever
Instructions for Interactivity
 Display items on the screen with instructions.
 A line will be drawn from the picture to the word as the student drags and drops.
 If the item is correct, the line will remain in place.
 If the item is incorrect, the line will disappear and beep sound will play.
 Correct answers are:
Page 12
Wheel and axle is the roller paint brush.
Wedge is the fireman prying open a door.
Inclined plane is the treadmill.
Pulley is the construction equipment hoisting a big blue box.
Screw is the light bulb.
Lever is the nutcracker.
When both items are correct, display CA.
Page 13