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Hey Skoshi,

We have a 45 minute workshop we do on simple machines with a similar  
type of setup involving stations. The first 10-15 minutes is the  
introduction, brief assessment of prior knowledge/experience with  
simple machines, then a lever demo (the smallest kid in class lifts  
the largest kid using an approx 8ft long 2x4 as a lever and smaller  
wooden block as a fulcrum) and an explanation of Work = Force x  
Displacement and the interchange between F and D while spent energy  
stays the same.

After that students rotate around 4 different stations:

Wheel and axle
Students use a force gauge to measure the force required to pull a  
wooden block across a table. Then measure the force to pull it while  
on a small cart. Then stack as many wooden blocks on top of the cart  
to see how many can be pulled using the same force from the first  
part (without the cart)

Inclined plane
Use a force gauge to measure the effort required to pull a wooden  
block straight up to the top of an inclined plane. Then use the gauge  
to measure the force required to pull the block along the inclined  
plane.

Pulley
Meaure the force required to lift two identical blocks, one with a 2  
pulley system and the other with a 4 pulley system

Lever
The apparatus is a equal arm balance type of set up with 10 hooks on  
each arm of the balance about an inch apart, numbered from 1-10 with  
1 being closest to the fulcrum. The students are told to place two  
small plastic weights (each of which are 10 grams) on any two hooks  
on one side and try and balance the lever with weights on the other  
side but not on the same numbers. Then, with a little facilitation,  
they see that 8 weights on the #1 hook one one side can be balanced  
with 1 weight on the #8 hook of the other side. Greater distance  
traveled by a smaller effort (the single weight) is equivalent to a  
smaller distance travelled by a greater load on the opposite side.  
Then students are reminded of the demo at the beginning of class  
where the small student is like the single weight on hook 8 while the  
larger student is the 8 weights on hook 1.

Each station is a table that seats 8 kids and has 4 setups of each of  
the above activites so students work in teams of two. After the  
stations are done, if there is time (and there almost always isn't),  
students do a small "make it and take it" activity involving simple  
machines. Usually its a windmill-type device using cardboard, straws,  
index cards, string and a paper clip. when you blow on one side of  
the index card, the string is wound around the straw and the paper  
clips are lifted. The index card is a lever that catches the air when  
you blow on it and the string being wound around the straw is a type  
of wheel and axle. The device is very similar to what was used back  
in the days to lift a pail of water out of a well: turn the crank and  
the rope pulls the bucket up. Then a brief review is done of what  
students learned and are then dismissed.

Students really love this workshop as there is so much to do, but  
facilitation is key in order to make sure everyone is doing what they  
are supposed to when they are supposed to do it. Teachers love this  
workshop as well and request it often as it matches perfectly with  
their simple machines curriculum.

If you have any more questions or want more info feel free to call  
the # below. Hope this helps!

Best,

Adiel Fernandez
Science Instructor
New York Hall of Science
47-01 111th street
Corona, NY 11368
(718) 699-0005 Ext. 335

On Aug 26, 2010, at 2:53 PM, Skoshi Wise wrote:

> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology  
> Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related  
> institutions.
> ********************************************************************** 
> *******
>
> Hello,
> I am working with a physics student from our local university to put
> together a 45 minutes simple machines lab for grades 3 - 5 for our  
> field
> trip program to the museum.  The plan so far is to have stations with
> examples of different simple machines for kids to experiment with  
> and then
> come back and build something that uses a simple machine.  The physics
> student is building the simple machines...  My question is, does  
> anyone
> already do something like this?  What scale are the simple machines  
> that you
> are using?  What do you have the kids build?  Is it fun?  Any input  
> would be
> appreciated!
>
> Thanks,
>
> -- 
> Skoshi Wise
> Director of Education
> ScienceWorks Hands-On Museum
> 541.482.6767 ext. 226
>
> ********************************************************************** 
> *
> For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers  
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