1
Simple machines
1 Find a photograph or draw a picture of a machine that is made
up of some of the six simple machines.
2 Label the simple machines within the larger machine.
3 Then explain how the simple machine helps the larger machine
to do its work.
Forces and Motion Copyright © Pearson Australia 2011 (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) ISBN 978 1 4425 2530 6
2
Levers – balancing
1 Use materials around you to make a seesaw. Make the seesaw balance
by placing coins or small blocks on either end. What happens when
you move some of the coins or blocks nearer to the middle?
2 Place two or more objects on one end and balance them with
a different number of objects on the other end.
3 Change the position of the objects along the seesaw.
Create your own experiments and record your observations.
Forces and Motion Copyright © Pearson Australia 2011 (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) ISBN 978 1 4425 2530 6
3
Simple machines at school
Look around your school. How many simple machines can you find?
Sort them into the six simple machine groups.
• Did you find any pulleys?
• Where are you likely to see pulleys in action?
Forces and Motion Copyright © Pearson Australia 2011 (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) ISBN 978 1 4425 2530 6
4
Wheel and axle
Use different materials, such as milk cartons, lids and boxes, to make
a model train that uses a wheel and axle.
Design an experiment to test your train.
Think about:
• How much weight can it hold?
• How far can it travel?
• How quickly can it move?
• Did you have any problems when you were building the transport?
• If you did, describe what happened. How did you solve the problems?
Forces and Motion Copyright © Pearson Australia 2011 (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) ISBN 978 1 4425 2530 6
5
Move a brick
Design and make simple machines that can be used to move a brick
a short distance. Use at least three different simple machines, such as
a ramp, a pulley and a wheel and axle.
Evaluate the machines.
Report on your findings.
Forces and Motion Copyright © Pearson Australia 2011 (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) ISBN 978 1 4425 2530 6
6
Indigenous machines
Research traditional Indigenous Australian tools and weapons.
Write a report. Describe how each tool and weapon uses the technology
of simple machines.
Forces and Motion Copyright © Pearson Australia 2011 (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) ISBN 978 1 4425 2530 6
7
Imagine life without …
Choose a simple machine. Write a description or a story about what
the world would be like without it.
Forces and Motion Copyright © Pearson Australia 2011 (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) ISBN 978 1 4425 2530 6
8
The wheel
Have you ever heard the saying ‘Don’t re-invent the wheel’?
Research the history of the invention of the wheel.
Debate: The invention of the wheel the most important invention
ever made.
Forces and Motion Copyright © Pearson Australia 2011 (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) ISBN 978 1 4425 2530 6
9
A machine through time
Choose a machine that you use often and research how it has changed
over time.
Think about:
• Who invented the machine?
• How has it changed?
• Why do you think it has changed?
• How might it change in the future?
Forces and Motion Copyright © Pearson Australia 2011 (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) ISBN 978 1 4425 2530 6
10
Design a machine
Design and make a machine using simple machines.
Explain the parts of the machine and what the machine does.
Forces and Motion Copyright © Pearson Australia 2011 (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) ISBN 978 1 4425 2530 6
11
Simple machine museum
Look for kitchen utensils. Make a collection of tools from the kitchen
which are simple machines or are made up of simple machines. Do not
use sharp knives in your collection.
Label the display with cards explaining how the simple machine allows
the tool to do its work. Try to find examples of kitchen utensils that have
changed over time but still do the same work.
Display this as a simple machine museum.
Forces and Motion Copyright © Pearson Australia 2011 (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) ISBN 978 1 4425 2530 6