LETTER TO EDUCATORS
The Museum of Early Trades & Crafts is a non-profit educational institution that
explores and presents the history and life ways of ordinary 18th and 19th century
Americans through its collection, presentations, and exhibitions of hand tools and
artifacts. School programs comprise an important part of our educational mission and
are in full alignment with current Core Curriculum Standards.
We are confident that you and your students will enjoy the Museum’s presentation of
SIMPLE MACHINES. We have assembled this educational packet to help you integrate
our presentation with learning activities in your classroom. The packet is not
intended to be a set of sequential tasks; rather, it presents additional possibilities. Mix
and match, use what interests you, and come up with your own ideas. You may make
copies of the pages of this document for classroom use.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about these materials
or any ideas about how to improve the packet or the Museum presentation.
Meg Wastie
Curator of Education
973-377-2982, x12
[email protected]
OVERVIEW & PROGRAM OBJECTIVES: SIMPLE MACHINES
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Early Americans used timeless innovations to perform daily tasks and chores. Students will explore the
functions of the incline plane, screw, lever, wedge, wheel & axle, and pulley through hands-on
examination of the Museum’s artifacts. Each participant will decorate a simple machine to take home.
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
Students will demonstrate ability to:
1. Identify and define the six kinds of simple machines.
2. Examine artifacts from the past to determine uses and applications of simple machines.
3. Communicate effectively while presenting information to classmates.
4. Compare their lives to the lives of Early American children by stating similarities and differences.
5. Develop brainstorming skills and group work skills by working in small groups on presentations of
simple machines.
6. Demonstrate the uses of 18th and 19th century simple machines.
SIMPLE MACHINES
Suggested Pre-Visit Activity
Objective: Students will demonstrate an ability to identify different machines that are used by people in
order to reduce or facilitate a work load.
1. Make a list of all the machines that can be found in your classroom or at home.
2. Identify whether each is a “simple” or a “complex” machine. How do you know?
3. Describe how the machines work.
4. Indicate why each machine makes the work load easier.
5. Examine the two pictures below, each utilizing the wheel and axle simple machine:
•
•
•
How are these “machines” alike in terms of function, making work easier, means of operation?
How are they different?
What descriptive word do they have in common? (wagon)
SIMPLE MACHINES
Suggested Post-Visit Activity
Objective: Students will demonstrate an ability to understand the uses of simple machines by
creating/inventing their own machine.
INVENT YOUR OWN MACHINE!
Think about a chore that you do often that takes a lot of hard work. How could you
make that job easier? Invent a machine that will do the job for you!
Include in your invention:
• A combination of several simple machines
• A description of what your machine will do
• A description of how your machine works
• An illustration/diagram of your machine
• The name of your machine
CORE
STANDARD
READING
WRITING
SPEAKING &
LISTENING
LANGUAGE
1
2
What are the
6 simple
machines &
their uses?
Learn about the
need for
machines to
make work
easier & more
efficient.
On
observation
forms
provided,
write group
findings on
specific
simple
machine
artifacts
Review the 6
simple
machines
Communicate
clearly &
effectively
when
presenting
group
findings
In small groups,
handle &
examine
museum
artifacts that
represent simple
machines
N/A
3
4
5
6
7
Incline plane
Lever
Pulley
Screw
Wedge
Wheel/axle
Force
Effort
Fulcrum
Resistance
Charts &
diagrams
Informative
non-fiction:
Museum
panels &
artifact labels
Need for
diagrams in
text: purpose
of machine
shapes the
design of the
machine
Hands-on
operation of
simple
machines
Apply
knowledge of
wheel/axle to
pinwheel craft
Identify
simple
machines
Examination
of artifacts
Explain
machines &
possible uses
Compare
machines then &
now
Classroom
follow-up
Classroom
follow-up:
Write a
narrative
from the
point of view
of a person
using these
simple
machines
Listen to
group
presentation
on their
simple
machines,
discoveries
&
observations
Classroom
follow up
Classroom
follow-up
facilitated by
Museum
Learning
Packet [MLP]
In small
groups,
present to
the rest of
the class
findings &
observations
about the
simple
machine
artifact
assigned
Hands-on
demonstration
including
student
explanations
of machines’
purposes, uses
& operation
--------------------
--------------------
------------------------
---------------------
Clarify the
relationship
of force,
work, effort
& resistance
Role-play &
discuss the
difference
between work
and non-work
Use
specialized
vocabulary in
describing
machines
--------------------
--------------------
------------------------
---------------------
Comparative
uses of the
word
“machine”
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MUSEUM OF EARLY TRADES & CRAFTS, MADISON, NJ
COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS
SIMPLE MACHINES – GRADES 1 - 4
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