Record the distance, time and speed with a free recording sheet. source: Ĭonduct trials with toy cars to see how you can make them go faster. All you need are some simple tools like rulers, a semi-heavy object and something to be the fulcrum.Ī video explaining how a lever works is included.
Create towers with note cards, string and a tower to feel the law as you take out each card separately, quickly or try to pull them all out at once!Įxplore how to move the fulcrum on a lever to experiment how it impacts ease of use. Perfect to accompany the (affiliate) book How Do You Lift a Lion? source: Įxplore Newton’s first law together – the law of inertia – by seeing it in action. Students must create 3 ways to move a lion (or another small toy) using simple machines. source: Ĭreate a simple machines challenge. Talk about how resistance to flowing is called viscosity and have fun. Skip the cars on an incline and go for liquids! Create a viscosity race with stuff from your fridge. Students have to build a basketball hoop with classroom objects and recycled materials. Take what you learned about building catapults in the above experiment to build a STEM engineering challenge. With plastic utensils and marshmallows you’re set to build. source: Ĭreate catapults to explore how to make simple machines. Use lots of questions to guide young students to extend their exploration. Set up ramps with different textures and send toy cars down. Some of these can be adapted for different grade levels. Let’s plan some force and motion experiments for all elementary grades. If you’re looking for helpful ideas and lesson plans – then this is the place to start!ĭo you need a refresher as the teacher before planning your simple machines unit? This simple machines facts page is an excellent (and easy) way to jog your memory. This collection of force and motion activities and resources should help you cover the topics like texture, gravity, incline and simple machines. Get teaching with these force and motion experiments, activities and videos to use in the elementary classroom.