Third Graders Know Their Simple Machines
by: Mrs. Wurster
Look what we made! We made a wheel and axle to move toys around. We also made an inclined plane to help load trucks. We made wedges, and pulleys. Some of us made a lever. Some of the levers were used to catapult objects such as a marshmallow into a cup of hot chocolate or nuts to feed the squirrels.
Third graders completed their unit on "Forces, Machines, and Work" by making a simple machine and writing a report about it. Their reports included the materials they used and how they made their simple machine. They also told how their simple machine works and how it makes work easier. Third grade scientists learned that a simple machine has few or no moving parts. They also learned that there are six kinds of simple machines. They are levers, inclined planes, screws, pulleys, wheel and axles, and wedges. Each of these simple machines can make work easier. Simple machines are everywhere! Hurrah for simple machines!
