Exploring Simple Machines
Explore how simple machines make work easier and safer as students investigate, evaluate, and design inclusive playground features that solve real-world problems
- Grades 3-6
- 3 activities
- 2.3 hours
Big idea
Simple machines help people solve problems through safe and efficient design
Learning objectives
- Identify and describe the six types of simple machines.
- Explain how simple machines make tasks easier and safer.
- Use evidence to evaluate helpful simple machines in designs.
- Apply design criteria to select appropriate simple machines.
- Design a playground feature using multiple simple machines.
Activities
How do simple machines help us
Learners examine familiar examples of simple machines and develop criteria for what makes their use helpful.
BC curriculum fit
How do simple machines help us
- Science 3-6
- Applied Design, Skills, and Technologies 3-6
Choosing helpful simple machines for playgrounds
- Science 3-6
Designing helpful playground features
- Science 3-6
Assessments
Each activity includes suggestions on what to assess throughout the activities.
Background info
This unit introduces students to the six simple machines and explores how they help people by making tasks easier, safer, and more efficient. Students begin by investigating how simple machines are used in everyday situations and use evidence to explain why they are helpful. They then apply criteria related to safety, accessibility, and usefulness to evaluate which simple machines would be most effective in a playground setting. Building on this understanding, students engage in an engineering design challenge where they design a playground feature that incorporates multiple simple machines and meets the needs of diverse users. Throughout the unit, students develop their communication, critical and creative thinking, and personal and social competencies as they collaborate, justify decisions with evidence, reflect on their learning, and design solutions for a community space.
Adaptions/modifications
Each activity offers potential modifications and extensions suggestions.
