Simple Machines Packet (About 30 pages)

I have kids of different ages (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.

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.)

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).

Simple Machines Packet Quick Preview

My kids and I have had a lot of fun with this unit!

The cost of the Simple Machines Packet is $5.99.

To Make a Purchase:  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.) Be sure to check your spam folder. 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.

$5.99

Don’t forget to check your PayPal email address for the download link!

If you use this in your homeschool or classroom, I’d love to hear from you over at my Homeschool Den Facebook Page!

Other Hands-On Activities from Our Simple Machines Unit:

• Simple Machines Unit: Hands-On Activities on Levers
• wedges
• screws (including the Archimedes screw)
• pulleys – probably the kids’ favorite day!
• wheel and axel

• States of Matter – Changing States of Matter Packet (This is a unit we did when my kids were in early elementary.)