Simple Machines are around us on a daily basis. Some we don't even realize and most go unnoticed throughout our lifetime. The sixth grade group is focusing in on incline planes and the use of gears during a construction unit. Students must focus in on how the simple machine is used in everyday life and how it makes things easier for us. The building/engineering part hasn't been easy for them, as each piece has to be carefully put in the exact location for the machines to work. Some frustration has been had, but in the end learning has taken place.
Some 5th grade students have had the opportunity to test, modify and re-test their projects while studying wind power. The wind (box fan) was the only constant in this experiment and students had ample supplies to use. They used different types of paper, lego pieces and tape to test their hypothesis to make a car travel twenty feet by only using wind power. All students achieved the goal, yet each car looked VERY different. Data was collect, studied and helped the students make decisions on future designs.
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| The "Look" of Success! |
Simple Machines are around us on a daily basis. Some we don't even realize and most go unnoticed throughout our lifetime. The sixth grade group is focusing in on incline planes and the use of gears during a construction unit. Students must focus in on how the simple machine is used in everyday life and how it makes things easier for us. The building/engineering part hasn't been easy for them, as each piece has to be carefully put in the exact location for the machines to work. Some frustration has been had, but in the end learning has taken place.
