Last year, the kids were 5, 8 and 10. We all did this simple machines unit together. It was perfect for my younger two — quite easy for my oldest, but from here we’re going to go on to more complicated topics… inventions and electricity (see our STEM Electricity and Circuits Packet here) which are more suited to my older two. It works best for our family to do these science and history together even if I have to modify it for the kids.
I’ll explain what’s in the packet:
The first three pages are virtually identical with a tracing page, fill-in-the-blank page and matching page:
This packet also includes a couple of Simple Machine worksheets with matching and with fill in the blank. (The other, not pictured, has tracing.)
We went into quite a bit of detail about the three classes of levers. These are some pages that explain what those three classes are and has them identify the fulcrum, load and effort:
These are pretty simple pages to write notes on the types of machines… and then three pages for the picture sort (see the next set of pictures below):
We read several different books along with our unit. The first was How Do You Lift a Lion? (affiliate link) It was a great way to introduce several of the simple machines (lever, wheel and axle, pulley)
We read about levers first from a science book and also read Scoop, Seesaw, and Raise: A Book About Levers (affiliate link)
Then we went on to do a bunch of hands-on activities.
Simple Machines Sorting Activity:
There are four pages of pictures of various simple machines you might encounter in everyday life that the kids had to sort.
I also put answers (so there are four additional pages)… although some things could be categorized in more than one place. The wheel barrow, for example, could be classified as a lever — or it could be classified as a wheel and axle. If you have younger kids you may not want to use all of these.
Interactive Notebook Page: 
In the next section, I jotted down some of the activities I could do with the kids. We wound up doing a lot of them and you’ll find them in other posts about this unit. (I’ll link to those hands-on activities at the end of this post.)
I contemplated deleting the last three or four pages because they were just my notes about simple machines… there’s a long list of examples and some other things I considered doing with the kids. Anyway, I decided in the end to keep those notes in. Maybe you’ll find them helpful, maybe not!!:
Also included in this packet are some lapbook pieces and a couple pages that include some of the hands-on activities we did during this unit.
Recently, I added a couple of new pages to this packet: Simple Machines at a Construction Site. Kids will try to identify as many simple machines in the pictures as they can. The page on the left below is blank (for the students) and a suggested answer page is included (pictured below). There is also a page of common tools and trucks at a construction site plus the answer page.
Simple Machines Booklet: This is a booklet all about the six types of simple machines: lever, wheel and axle, inclined plane, wedge, pulley and screw. It also covers the three classes of levers.
Kids can trace the key words and color in the pictures. The booklet is 14 half-pages. (Directions on how to put the booklet together are provided.)
If you are interested, you can purchase this packet with the button below or by visiting Our Store.
The Simple Machines Unit is now over 50+ pages. It includes notebook pages & worksheets, the interactive notebook activity, simple machines booklet and hands-on activity ideas (with photos). My kids and I have had a lot of fun with this unit!
Simple Machines Packet Quick Preview
The cost of the Simple Machines Packet is $5.99.
$5.99
Don’t forget to check your PayPal email address for the download link!
Once you pay for this packet, you will immediately receive a link to download this file (which will open in a browser window). You will also receive an email from Sendowl (the service I use) to your Paypal email address, which will have a link you can click on to download the Simple Machines unit. (It will say, “You can download your digital products…” with a clickable link. It may take a few moments to arrive.) Of course, if you have any issues just email me at — Liesl at homeschoolden dot com. You can also reach me by using the contact form on the blog or by replying to the SendOwl email.
If you use this in your homeschool or classroom, I’d love to hear from you over at my Homeschool Den Facebook Page! ~Liesl
Disclosure: Please note that some of the links in this post are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase.
Other Hands-On Activities from Our Simple Machines Unit:
- States of Matter – Changing States of Matter Packet (This is a unit we did when my kids were in early elementary.)
- Rocks and Minerals Packet
- Human Body Systems –– This post also has links to a number of different worksheet sets I made on the digestive system, etc.
- Montessori Science — A post that links to some of the free Montessori 3-part cards I have made for the kids
See you again soon here or over at our Homeschool Den Facebook Page! Don’t forget to Subscribe to our Homeschool Den Newsletter. You might also want to check out some of our resources pages above (such as our Science, Language Arts, or History Units Resource Pages) which have links to dozens of posts. You might want to join our free Homeschool Den Chat Facebook group. Don’t forget to check out Our Store as well. 
Again, if you are interested in joining our Homeschool Den Newsletter, feel free to subscribe here:
Happy Homeschooling!
~Liesl
Disclosure: Please note that some of the links in this post are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase.
