Simple+Machines

Simple Machines Unit Plan 4th and 5th Grade Lori McCourry, Julie Rice and Tamara Presnell Mind Tools: Dynamic Modeling Tools, Communication Tools, Interpretation/Visualization Tools

Outcomes: Students will be able to: Time Required: Approximately 1 week Materials/Resources
 * Identify Newton's 3 Law's of Motion
 * Identify gears, levers, pulleys, wedges, wheels & axels, screws, and inclined planes
 * Recognize how simple machines are used in real world settings
 * Collaborate with peers to create a multimedia project
 * Computers with Internet access
 * Flip Camera
 * [|Bubbl.us] to create story board
 * [|edheads.org]
 * [|Simple Machines with Wally the Ant]

Pre-activity Students will use edheads.org in the computer lab to familiarize themselves with the simple machines and their uses. They will participate in a pre- and post-test provided by edheads.

Activities:
 * 1) Divide the class into groups. We are using both 4th and 5th grade. Assign each group a simple machine or one of Newton's 3 Laws.
 * 2) Students will research their assigned machine to answer these questions:
 * 3) What is it?
 * 4) How does it make work easier?
 * 5) What are some real world examples?
 * 6) Students will then use Bubbl.us to create a story board or plan of how they are going to put their video together.
 * 7) Using the Flip camera students will create a video that will include them demonstrating the simple machine or Newton's Law.
 * 8) The individual videos will be put together in Windows Movie Maker and used to introduce the force and motion unit for 5th grade.
 * 9) Students will share their videos on Gaggle.net and our School Fusion website.

Assessment: Final Video [|Simple Machines Rubric.xls]media type="custom" key="5941107" align="right" width="67" height="81"