Simple Machines Interactive Notebook Activity
I wanted to let you all know that I added a new interactive notebook activity to the Simple Machines Packet. This Simple Machines Interactive Notebook activity covers all 6 types of simple machines (levers, inclined plane, wedge, pulley, screw, wheel and axle). It also reviews the three classes of levers. It might be a really good way to wrap up (or review) this material! You will find it on pages 49-54 of the Simple Machines Packet.
When we first did the Simple Machines packet, my 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. (Note: Now my kids are 10, 12 and 14 and we still do most of our history and science units together, though my oldest is doing physics on his own… ie. separate from his siblings!)
Here is a screen shot of some of the notebook pages and activities in this packet. Plus, I included some of the hands-on activities our family did when we did this unit!We incorporated a lot of hands-on activities into this unit! My kids loved these!! Photos and instructions are included in our Simple Machines Packet.
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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).
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We spent quite a bit of time on the three classes of levers and did lots of hands-on activities about levers. You will find links to some of our other hands-on activities below.
As I said above, when we did this unit, my youngest was in preschool and my older two were in early elementary. We had so much fun with all the hands-on activities that go along with it! I’ll link to some of the hands-on activities we did. (Descriptions of our hands-on activities are included on pages 38 to 42 of the packet, as well.)
The new interactive notebook pages are on pages 49 to 54.
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
Some of the books we used for this unit:
The first book we read 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)
We read the book, Archimedes and the Door of Science along with this unit. What a terrific book and what a remarkable man Archimedes was! The book talks about the Archimedes screw as well as lots of other topics — astronomy, math, geometry and more. We loved the imagery of Archimedes pulling a massive ship with pulleys and of course the description of the irrigation screw. I highly recommend this book, but it’s probably better suited to older elementary (grades 3-6).
The Archimedes screw was a machines used to transfer water to irrigation ditches.
It traditionally looks like this…
So that’s it for today. I just wanted to be sure to pass the word along about this update.
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~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.