Simple Machines: Learning Experiences
Sample Simple Machines Activities + Resources
- Archimedes Screw Exploration from High Hill Education is a simple project using a plastic bottle that showcases how this invention made hundreds of years ago was able to move material.
- Kids will get a kick out of moving toys from downstairs to upstairs using this Banister Pulley from Hands on As We Grow
- Kids are sure to be impressed by this working elevator model that explores pulleys from How to Adult
- Let your kids imaginations run wild as they make their own Button Wheel & Axel Cars from Almost Unschoolers
- Pulley Experiment for Kids from 123 Homeschool 4 Me uses common household items like cans to make a fun-to-try simple machine
- Simple machines and art collide in this fun Inclined Planes Art from Strong Start
- Stack It Up! - Students analyze and begin to design a pyramid. They perform calculations to determine the area of their pyramid base, stone block volumes, the number of blocks required for their pyramid base, and make a scaled drawing of a pyramid on graph paper.
Watch this activity on YouTube - Choosing a Pyramid Site - Working in engineering project teams, students choose a site for the construction of a pyramid. They base their decision on site features as provided by a surveyor's report; distance from the quarry, river and palace; and other factors they deem important to the project.
- Launching Snowman from Buggy & Buddy is such a cute activity to help kids explore levers in a super creative way!
- What can simple machines make? Take a peak with this Make a Crane from At Home with Ali
- Wheel and Axle Project using plates from Sciencing is a fun, simple to make project with items you probably have laying around your house.
- Simple and to the point Movable Pulley with Paper Clips from Carrots are Orange
- Paper Towel Roll Catapult from Kids Activities Blog is a mega size project showcasing the lever
- This epic PVC Pipe Pulley from Little Bins for Little Hands is big in size, not in cost or difficulty to make!
- Rolling Pin Pulley from Kids Activities Blog shows us that you don’t need anything fancy to make simple machines work
- Tissue Box Catapult from Premeditated Leftovers is a fun twist on the typical lever project you’ve seen
- Using Marbles to Experiment with Forces from Inclined Planes from The Techy Teacher turns discovering inclined planes into a game. Ready. Set. Learn!
- What’s the Big Deal with a Fulcrum? from Ozark Ramblings is a simple, no frills look at a lever.
- This DIY Muscle Machine from KiwiCo is a fascinating project using pulleys.
- I Spy Simple Machines from 123 Homeschool 4 Me is a free printable that not only teaches about simple machines, but gives instructions for a fun simple machines scavenger hunt too!
- Bubble Machine Blower Machine from Teach Beside Me – this is such a fun idea kids will get excited about that explores the wheel simple machine
- Lego Zipline from Little Bins for Little Hands is such a cool project to explore pulleys with kids
- This easy to make pulley and lever board from Inspiration Labratories is the perfect introductory project to do indoors with kids of all ages!
- Levers have never been more fun than when you create one out of recycled materials like The OT Toolbox
- DIY Craft Stick Catapult is a fun-to-try activity learning about levers from Coffee Cups and Crayons
- Make science come alive for kids with this Straw Roller coaster from Frugal Fun 4 Boys that explores inclined planes with kids!
- Dive into history with this Ancient Civilization Irrigation Model that explores several simple machines from Teach Student Savvy
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