Simple Machines, Day 1: Inclined Plane (Ramp), Wedge, Screw, & Wheel & Axle

My son loves machines and after I noticed him experimenting with pulleys (a string tied to a cookie cutter draped over his finger), I decided to do a preschool lesson on simple machines. Since this is something that is often introduced in 3rd grade, I scoured the internet to find some simpler, not so technical stuff that would be appropriate to include in a lesson for 3-4 year olds. Anyway, you can go into as little or much detail about them as you want, but they just enjoyed playing with the machines more than anything else!

Quick intro to simple machines- There are 6 simple machines. They are the simplest machines that make up all machines (Ie: a can opener is made up of a lever, wedge, and wheel & axle). I've listed a brief definition and examples of each type of simple machine below. I did the first four on day one (lesson below), and the last two will be in the next lesson.

The Inclined Plane: Often referred to as a 'ramp' the inclined plane allows you to multiply your force over a longer distance. In other words, you exert less force but for a longer distance. You do the same amount of work, it just seems easier because you spread it over time. Inclined plane (ramp)--ladder, escalator, hill, roller coaster, stairs, wheelchair ramp, gangplank, dump truck, unloading ramp, parkade, Staircase, Ramp, Bottom of a Bath Tub, ramp-race track.

The Wedge: A wedge works in a similar way to the inclined plane, only it is forced into an object to prevent it from moving or to split it into pieces. A knife is a common use of the wedge. Wedge- -paper cutter, scissors, crowbar, chisel, axe, prying tools, can opener, door wedge, pins, needles, nails, zipper, knife.

The Wheel and Axle: Any large disk (the wheel) attached to a small diameter shaft or rod (the axle) can give you mechanical advantage. Turning a screw with a screwdriver is a simple example of a wheel and axle. Can you think of others we use everyday? Wheel and axle--windmill, bicycle, roller skate, vehicles, rolling pin, egg beater, helicopter, old-fashioned telephone dial, fishing reel, record player, tapes, door knob, pencil sharpener, bobbins, fans, casters, Wagon, Toy Car

The Screw: The screw is really just an inclined plane wrapped around a rod. It too can be used to move a load (like a corkscrew) or to 'split' and object (like a carpenter's screw). Screw--different sizes of screws for metal or wood, drill, meat grinder, bolts, nuts, cork screw, swivel chair, jar lid, spiral staircase.

The Lever: The lever is simply a bar supported at a single point called the fulcrum. The positioning of the fulcrum changes the mechanical advantage of the lever. Levers--teeter totter, oar, rake, hoe, bat, pick, fork, screw driver, snow shovel, hammer, bottle opener, light switch, pancake turner, stapler, crowbar, scissors, car jack, Door on Hinges, Seesaw, Hammer, Bottle Opener, toaster, nutcracker, can opener, scissors, ruler W/ pennies, faucet, broom, nail clippers, stapler, fishing rod, tweezers, tongs.

The Pulley: A pulley is any rope or cable looped around a support. A very simple pulley system would be a rope thrown over a branch to hoist something into the air. Often, pulleys incorporate a wheel and axle system to reduce the friction on the rope and the support. Pulley- -fan belt, elevators, steam shovels, flagpole, clothesline pulleys, derricks, cranes, lifts, pulleys, gears, old-fashioned well, block and tackle, winch, wire stretchers, Flag Pole, Crane, Mini-Blinds

Here's the lesson on Simple Machines, Part 1:

Materials: What is a Wedge?, What is a plane?, What is a Wheel & Axle?, What is a Screw?, all by Lloyd G. Douglas , and household examples of each of these types of machines, question of the day sentence (Which tool do you like best?) and pictures, books for reading corner, household machines for the relay (large toy dump trucks, blocks, car ramp/racetrack, small cars, paper chain, scissors, box, soda bottles, jacket with zipper), snacks (marshmallows, fruit cup, cheese sticks, crackers), flannel board, simple machines pictures for flannel board, “MorningThree, Night Four” fable with pictures of bananas to count, Materials for centers: ice cream maker and ingredients for ice cream, computer, Letter Nn worksheet and booklet from first-school. I found some fun activities at this website. I also found great information about simple machines at this website.

As children enter, have them find their name card and put it on the “question of the day” chart- “Which tool do you like best?”. Direct them to the reading area to look at books until all the children arrive. You could also sing a song or do a movement activity (Simon Says, Do as I’m Doing, Wheels on the Bus, etc.).

10:05-10:30- Circle Time
Welcome and Introduction- Have children sit on “carpets” and sing a welcome song (Here We Are Together, Hello Hello- You can sing several songs and use fun activity songs as well)
Discuss “Question of the Day”- count and share
Review Rules- Have children model what it looks like to listen, be happy, etc.
Helping Hands- Rotate class jobs and remind children what their job is
Teacher- Assists the teacher (hold books, pass things out, etc.)
Weatherman- Look outside and chooses one or two weather pictures to put on the chart of today’s weather.
Calendar- Helps put the dates on the calendar
Snack Helper- Helps pass out snacks
Calendar- Have calendar helper put dates on the calendar. Sing a “Days of the Week” song. Talk about what day it was yesterday, today and what day it will be tomorrow. Look at the pattern and discuss the shapes.
Weather- With the help of the weatherman, look outside and put up the weather for today on the weather chart. You could also discuss what kind of clothing is the best to wear today.
Movement activity- (sometime during circle time to break it up a bit) 5 little Monkeys Jumping on the bed. (From CD titled Music for Little People, 101 Toddler Favorites)
Alphabet- Sing the alphabet sound song (the a says a, the a says a, every letter makes a sound, the a says a...). Introduce the letter of the week, Nn. Discuss what the lowercase and uppercase letter looks like, sound like and words that start with it. Have children find pictures and put them on the letter Mm paper.
Numbers and Colors- Read the fable “Morning Three, Night Four” from starfall.com and have the children help you count 3, 4 and then add them together. Then count 4, 3 and add them together. Talk about how we can add two numbers together to get a larger number. Show bananas on the flannel board as you count together.

10:30-10:40 Wash hands/Snack- Dismiss to the table. Eat some munchies: marshmallows, fruit cup, crackers, cheese.

10:40- 11:05 - Lesson/Activity/Craft-
Tell the children that we are going to have a relay race. Show them how to do each part of the relay:

1. First they will drive a dump truck across the room, then they will load it up with blocks.
2. Then they will drive it back across the room and dump the blocks into the box.
3. Then they will race three cars down the ramp
4. Next, cut one piece of paper off of the paper chain.
5. They must put the paper that they cut off into the box
6. Then they can screw the lid off of one soda bottle and onto the other.
7. Finally they will have to put on a jacket and zip up the zipper.
(You will have to remind them and guide them through each step while they are doing it)

Have the children gather back to the couch or the floor and show the pictures on the flannel board of the 6 different simple machines. Explain to the children that we just used some of these machines to help us do our relay. Show them what machines were part of our relay and how they helped us. Explain that machines help make work easier for us like cutting with scissors, or moving a car.

Read “What is a plane?” Show the children the ramp for the cars to drive down. Explain that this is a ramp that helps the cars go very fast. The bed of the dump truck is also a ramp to help items slide off easily.

Read “What is a wedge?” Show the children the scissors. Explain that the scissors have two sharp wedges that help us cut paper easily, the zipper on your jacket is also made up of many wedges.

Read “What is a wheel & axle?” Show the wheels on the car and explain that the wheels help the car move.

Read “What is a screw?” Show the screw inside the soda bottle. Explain that this is a screw and it helps the lid go on easily and stay put.

Can you think of other machines in our homes that help us do things?

Tell the children that we will be using a machine to help us make something delicious- An ice cream maker to make ice cream!

11:05-11:25 – Centers or Structured Play (group game, puzzles, learning activity, learning centers, etc.)
Some ideas for learning centers could be:
-Ice Cream- Call the children over to help you mix the ice cream mixture, add salt and ice and then watch the wheel and axle inside the machine as it turns to make the ice cream.
-Computer- Starfall.com “Morning Three, Night Four”
-Machines Center- Cars, ramps, bottles w/lids, scissors & paper (include a paper cutter), knife & playdoh
-Letter Nn Books- Printed from first-school.com (color & trace letters, then cut and glue the pictures on the pages of the book.)

11:25-11:30 - Clean up and Close- Sing the clean up song and cleanup.

Cristi's Note: I taught this lesson today and the kids loved the relay race. I was afraid they wouldn't get it or just wouldn't want to do it, but it turned out well (I tried to keep each step simple and then just kept calling out what to do next as they were doing the relay). I did two kids at a time so had to have two of everything (dump truck, chain links, etc.). They also loved to help put the ice in the ice cream maker and of course the highlight was eating the ice cream!