HIT: Simple Machines

[Becky Frost <bfrost@EPIX.NET>]

Thanks to all of you who responded so quickly to my request for
supplementary materials for a third grade unit on simple machines.  We
should be able to put together a wonderful unit based on your
suggestions.  For those of you also wanting this information here are
the great tips I received:

A great software program is Gizmos and Gadgets.  It has the kids solve
puzzles with simple machines to earn machine parts.  Once they have all
their parts, they go to a race.  If they have chosen the correct
(aerodynamic) parts, they can win and move up a level  Our kids love it!

Try  www.iao.com/howthings/howthihm.htm
This is the site for How Things Work.  We have the CD in our school and
use it for this simple machines unit.

CD - How Things Work.  I also believe there is a new CD - Simple
Machines.

Our primary students really enjoyed the Way Things Work by David
Macaulay on CD-ROM.  It has short videos for each simple machine that
are very humorous and also has information about inventions.

From Barbara Troisi, Kids Connect Volunteer, in response to a student
asking for ideas on how to invent a simple machine:
I received this question regarding simple machines on Monday and thought
my responses to the student might be helpful for your unit planning.
    The first site that I visited had six super ideas for simple
machines--I really wanted to   build them myself.  There are several
other sites and resources that I would like to share with you.
    -Go to Yahooligans. <http://www.yahooligans.com/>
Enter the keywords "simple machines" in quotes.  Your search will list
one site.  Go to that site -Look, Learn, and Do Projects-.  Click on the
one you want to create.
    I used the search engine Inference Find to find other sites.  I
entered the same keywords in quotes.  I selected the sites that I though
would be most suitable for your assignment.  <http://www.infind.com/>
    _Go to SMILE PROGRAM PHYSICS INDEX
    <http://www.iit.edu/~smile/physinde.html>  Scroll down to the
Mechanics chapter and you will find -Simple Machines-.
    -Go to Marvelous Machines <http://www.Galaxy.net/~k12/machines/>
There are several ideas listed with a materials list included.
    -Visit your school library.  David Macaulay's _the Way Things
Work_is a visual guide to the world of machines.  The CD-ROM _Eyewitness
Encyclopedia of Science_ may also have ideas.
    Hopw these sites are beneficial.  Godd Luck!!

The Science Book of Machines, 1991.  0-15-200613-3.  Harcourt, Grades
2-6

_Young Scientists Encyclopedia_, Volume 9, is a nice treatment of simple
machines with great pictures and project ideas.

This Internet site is so much fun: How Stuff Works:
http://www.howstuffworks.com/

3rd grade unit on simple machines:
http://www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/docs/elemsci/gr3uhesc.html

Bill Nye, simple machines:
http://nyelabs.kcts.org/nyeverse/episode/e10.html

Simple machines:
http://www.san-marino.k12.ca.us/~summer1/machines/simplemachines.html
http://www.necc.mass.edu/MRVIS/MR3_13/start.htm#p7
http://wildcats.lafsd.k12.ca.us/stanley/projects/simpl.html
http://ericir.syr.edu/Virtual/Lessons/Science/Physical/cecsci09.html

This one would probably be best on a 3rd grade level:
http://science.cc.uwf.edu/sh/curr/machine/machine.htm

There was an activity our 4th graders (in a previous district) did where
they had to create a "Humdinger"!  Bascially a simple machine was in a
bag that the students couldn't see.  It would hum and ding (thus a
humdinger!).  The students worked in groups and were given the supplies
to try to recreate the humdinger with their imagination.  They then
showed the class what they came up with.  After they were done they were
shown how the actual machine looked and worked.  This was an end of unit
activity where they had already learned about pulleys and levers and
such.  I don't know how 3rd graders would do with it but they had a
blast.
--
Rebecca H. Frost
Elementary Librarian
Central Columbia Elementary School
4777 Old Berwick Road
Bloomsburg, PA  17815
717-784-6120
bfrost@epix.net

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