Rube Goldberg and simple and compound machines

It's been quite an effort and a learning curve to say the least, but I have finally finished the Simple and Compound Machines Unit that I have been working on. 

I recall teaching this unit with my Stage 2 students a few years ago and actually incorporated it with the work of Rube Goldberg. We (my students and I) thought his work was really fun and interesting and it certainly sparked a light of imagination in the eyes of my students. 

Many of us would have seen adverts on television that used Rube Goldberg machines, which in a nutshell are machines that intentionally take a large number of steps to complete a simple task, such as turning off a lightbulb in 20 steps. Simple machines are connected to one another to complete the task. It's fun to watch, but as my students discovered, it is painstaking to create a rube goldberg machine and have it work repeatedly.



As you can see from these Rube Goldberg machines made by university students.There is no reason though why younger children can't make them and in fact the youngest students I had doing it were in year 3. When looking at these machines in actions though it is clear they are made up of a range of simple machines working together.These videos are a great precursor or final display at the end of the simple and compound machines unit I have just finished.The unit is suitable for students in years 3-5, but in the Australian version, it is aligned with the year 4 science curriculum elaborations.This is one of the biggest unit's I have written and I am so proud of how comprehensive it is. 

It includes:

• A teacher’s guide with thorough explanations of concepts included,
• Assessment for each of the activities included,
• Comprehensive extension work for three of the activities to extend students laterally, 
• Full activity descriptions,
• 6 x Bright and fun simple machines posters
• Assessment worksheets
• Extension worksheets
• Investigating scientifically and design and make student reference guide
• Testing simple machines worksheets for practical activities,
• Extensions worksheets
• Simple machine activity stations cards to laminate
• Design and make planning pages
• Simple and compound machines PowerPoint presentation.

If all elements of this unit are taught it could take a year 4 class approximately 8 weeks. Otherwise it can be broken down and used as smaller resources.

Students will love undertaking the acitivities and I can't wait to teach it to my students in the future.

It's available now in USA and Australian versions in my TpT store and on Teacher's Marketplace.

Please let me know what you think of it.

What are simple and compound machines?

If you follow me on facebook you would have seen my link to an awesome website I love to use with my students called EdHeads. The site is http://www.edheads.org. I have used their simple machines interactive activities with students in years 3 and 4 a few times. Apart from the general layout, graphics and age appropriateness of the activities I really like that the students can't move on until they have completed the questions and demonstrated a level of comprehension.

So why the reference to Edheads?

I have been working hard on a unit on simple and compound machines for students in year 3 and 4. 
So what are simple and compound machines?
There are six common simple machines: lever, pulley, inclined plane, wheel and axle, screw and wedge. Essentially they all make life easier in one way or another. It could be that they make it easier to move a load, requiring less effort or force or that they connect or seperate two things.

A broom is a lever. The fulcrum or pivot point is the user's wrist. It moves a load (the dirt) with the load arm and is pushed with the force arm (where we hold it).

Compound machines are objects that have two or more simple machines included in them. A pair of scissors is a great compound machine. 

It has a lever (the handle) and a wedge (the blades of the scissors). A more complex compound machine is a stapler and staples.

A stapler has a lever - the handle, a wedge - the staples a wheel and axle - the pivot point for the lever and an inclined plane - the slant for papers to slide up under the staple dispenser. 

The unit I am creating has activities for students to develop a deeper understanding of simple and compound machines.
I really find that students love the rotational activity work that I have included and as you know I love my students to have hands on practical activities, while following scientific process and being encouraged to think for themselves.

This will be a very comprehensive unit with powerpoints, worksheets and the like so it can't be rushed. In the meantime have a look at Edheads. There are some other activities listed there also for older students such as the virtual knee replacement - looks like fun!