Lever 
A lever, a fundamental component among the six simple machines, consists of a straight rigid object like a board or bar pivoting on a fulcrum. Levers harness the concept of leverage, amplifying force to make work more manageable. When utilizing a lever, a smaller force is applied over a longer distance to lift a load a shorter distance.

In our daily lives, levers play a crucial role, aiding in the movement or lifting of heavy objects with minimal effort. These versatile machines are integrated into various items we regularly encounter, such as seesaws, scissors, and tweezers, all operating based on the same core principle.

This principle involves three key elements: the effort (force applied to the lever), the fulcrum (pivot point), and the load (the object to be moved). What sets levers apart is their adaptability—by adjusting the fulcrum's position, it becomes possible to shift or lift larger objects with reduced exertion, showcasing the remarkable capabilities of levers.

Examples of levers include seesaws, pliers, crowbars, and tweezers, all demonstrating the simple yet effective machine's ability to multiply force.
How do Levers help us?
A lever is like a simple tool that helps you move things. It has a long bar and a point in the middle where it can turn. This turning point is called the fulcrum. You push down on one side of the bar, and it makes something on the other side move.

A lever has three main parts: where you push (effort), the thing you want to move (load), and the point in the middle (fulcrum). Levers can be different types based on where these parts are.
  1. First class levers: The fulcrum is in the middle, between where you push and what you want to move. Like a seesaw.
  2. Second class levers: The thing you want to move is in the middle, between where you push and the fulcrum. Like a wheelbarrow, where the wheel is the fulcrum.

Levers make it easier to move stuff around!
Try This!
  • Experiment: "Balancing Act with Levers"
Materials:
A ruler or a sturdy wooden plank
Small objects (such as building blocks, toy cars, or small toys)
A fulcrum (a small object like a wooden block or a small plastic container)
Optional: A small container or cup

Procedure:
Introduction (5 minutes): 
Start by discussing the concept of levers in simple terms with the preschoolers. Explain that levers are tools that help lift or move things. Use everyday examples like seesaws or a crowbar to illustrate the concept.

Setup (5 minutes):
Place the ruler or plank on the fulcrum (the small object) to create a simple lever.
Demonstrate how the lever works by placing a small object on one side of the ruler.
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Experiment (10 minutes):
Encourage the children to explore and experiment with the lever by placing different objects on each side.
Discuss how the lever moves and what happens when different objects are placed on either side. Ask questions like, "What happens when you put a heavy object on one side and a light object on the other?" 
​Let them try to balance the lever by adjusting the position of the objects.
Questions/Discussion
  • When have you had to move something heavy from down low to high up?
  • How can you making lifting something heavy easier?
  • What did you observe when you placed different objects on the lever?
  • How did the lever move when you added a heavy object?
  • Can you make the lever balance by adjusting the position of the objects?
  • Why do you think the lever moves?
Family Connection
  • Encourage families to find and explore other examples of levers in their home, such as using a seesaw at the park or playing with a crowbar.
  • Create a lever at home using a ruler and a household object as a fulcrum, experimenting with different objects to discover how weight affects balance.
  • Have the children draw pictures or take photos of levers they find or create at home and share their findings with the family.
Examples of Levers
1. Seesaw: this playground staple is a classic example of a lever.
2. Door handle: pushing or pulling a door operates as a lever.
3. Scissors: the two blades work as levers when cutting.
4. Crowbar: it helps lift or move heavy objects.
5. Wheelbarrow:  it uses a lever to lift and carry loads.
6. Nutcracker: it works as a lever to crack open nuts.
7. Tongs: they use a lever to grip and hold objects.
   Fun Fact: Though the definitions for types of catapults vary, each share one goal: to hurl an object through the air. The word "catapult" comes from the Latin word catapulta and the Greek word katapaltēs, meaning "to hurl."
Dive Deeper with Levers by building a Catapult
  • Experiment: "Catapult Creations"

What is a Catapult? 
A catapult is a simple machine that uses a lever and tension to launch or throw objects over a distance. It typically consists of a lever arm, like a long stick, and a launching platform, such as a spoon or cup, to hold the object being thrown. By applying force to the lever arm, often through the use of tension created by rubber bands or other elastic materials, the catapult propels the object into the air. Catapults have been historically used for various purposes, including in warfare and as a tool for exploration.

Materials:
Craft sticks (about 10 per child)
Rubber bands
Plastic spoon (one per child)
Small pom-poms or soft balls
Small plastic container or cup
Optional: Markers, stickers, or decorative materials for decorating the catapult

Procedure:
Introduction (5 minutes):
Begin by introducing the concept of levers and catapults to the class. Explain that levers are simple machines that can be used to lift or launch objects. Briefly mention how catapults are a type of lever used for launching things.

Setup (5 minutes):
Give each child craft sticks and rubber bands.
Instruct them to create a base by stacking the craft sticks and securing them with rubber bands. This will serve as the lever arm.
Attach the plastic spoon to one end of the craft stick stack, creating a launching platform.

Experiment (15 minutes):
Demonstrate how to use the catapult by placing a small pom-pom or soft ball in the spoon and pressing down on the other end of the craft stick.
Allow preschoolers to experiment with their catapults, adjusting the angle of the spoon and the force applied to launch the objects.
Encourage them to launch the pom-poms into a small plastic container or cup.

***Optional Extensions:
Allow students to make various versions of the catapult. Students can then test the best design by determining which catapult launches the object the furthest and the highest.
Students can experiment with the amount of effort, or force, used when pushing down on the end of the catapult. Students can observe the best amount of force to launch further or higher. 

Discussion Questions:
What type of simple machine is this? How do you know?
How does this simple machine perform work? How does it make work easier?
What are the different parts of this lever?
How did you make the pom-pom go far with the catapult?
What happens when you change the angle of the spoon or adjust the craft sticks?
How does the catapult use a lever to launch the pom-pom?
Why do you think catapults were used in the past?

Extension Activities for Home:
Suggest families explore other examples of levers at home, such as using a seesaw or a door as a lever.
Encourage parents to help their children create different types of catapults using household materials like spoons, rubber bands, and craft sticks.
Ask families to experiment with launching lightweight objects of different sizes and shapes using their homemade catapults.
Prompt the children to draw pictures or take photos of their catapults and share their creations with their family.

This experiment engages preschoolers in a hands-on exploration of levers through the creation of a simple catapult. The extension activities encourage families to continue the learning experience at home and explore other examples of levers in their environment.
The Mechanics of a Catapult
A typical catapult consists of several key components, each contributing to its functionality:
  • Catapult arm: The catapult arm is the long wooden beam or lever that holds the projectile. It is the part that moves when the catapult is fired.
  • Tension: Tension, often created by twisted rope or other means, stores the energy required to launch the projectile.
  • Sudden release: When the tension is suddenly released, it transfers the stored energy to the catapult arm, causing it to swing rapidly and launch the projectile.
  • Counterweight (in some designs): Some catapults, like trebuchets, use a counterweight to generate force. The counterweight is raised and then dropped, creating the energy needed for the launch.
  • Wheels (in some designs): Some larger catapults are mounted on wheels to facilitate movement and positioning.
How do Catapults Work?
This is a great simple physics activity for kids of multiple ages. What is there to explore that has to do with physics? Let’s start with energy including elastic potential energy. You can also learn about projectile motion.

Newton’s 3 Laws of Motion state that an object at rest stays at rest until a force is applied, and an object stays in motion until something creates an imbalance. Every action causes a reaction.

When you pull down the lever arm all that potential energy gets stored up! Release it and that potential energy gradually changes over to kinetic energy. Gravity also does its part as it pulls the object back down to the ground.

To delve deeper into Newton’s Laws, check out the information here.

You can talk about stored energy or potential elastic energy as you pull back on the Popsicle stick, bending it. When you release the stick, all that potential energy is released into energy in motion producing the projectile motion.

A catapult is a simple machine that has been around for ages. Have your kids dig up a little history and research when the first catapults were invented and used! Hint; check out the 17th century!
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