Mad Machines Pre and Post

Transcription

1 Mad Machines Pre and Post Mad Science sparks imaginative learning with inquiry-based science for children. Ask us about other programs that meet regional curriculum requirements Included are activities for you to do with the class before and after the workshop to reinforce the concepts and terms in the lesson. There is also a section on activity extensions, books, resource suggestions, vocabulary, and a Mad Machines pop quiz related to the topic. BEFORE THE WORKSHOP To maximize the workshop s impact and educational value, we recommend introducing the students to the science of simple machines prior to the workshop. Here are several fun, easy, educational activities that prepare the class for the workshop. These experiments also help the students become familiar with the concept of observation, hypothesis, experimentation and the scientific method. Mighty Machine! Students experiment to see how a lever can make work easier. Materials Heavy books (5) Soda can (1) Board 1m (3') (1) 2010 Mad Science Mad Machines 1

2 Procedure 1. Place a pile of heavy books on a table or desk. Ask the students how you could lift the pile of books with one finger. 2. Have the children share their best guesses or hypotheses. 3. Invite a few students to come up and test out their hypotheses. 4. Place a board and a soda can on the table next to the pile of books. Ask the students to hypothesize about how the can and board could help lift the pile. 5. Invite a couple of students to come up and test their hypotheses. Note: Depending on the age and ability of your students you may need to help guide their thinking by asking them to think about a seesaw. You can balance the board on top of the can to help them visualize a seesaw. 7. Demonstrate how to use the soda can and the board as a seesaw. Place the can under the center of the board. Place the books on one end of the board. Press down with one finger on the opposite side of the board to lift the books. 8. Ask the students to share their observations with the group. 9. Explain to the class that you created a lever to lift the books. A lever is a type of simple machine. Extension The balance point of a lever is called the fulcrum. Experiment by moving the soda can fulcrum, first closer to and then farther from the book pile. Does this make it easier or harder to pick up? Explanation This activity demonstrates how simple machines help make work easier. A lever is an example of a simple machine that helps us use less force to move loads. You need a lot of effort and force to move the pile of books by yourself. You might even move them one by one and not the whole stack at once. Using the lever, you can use one little finger to do all that work. Mechanical Messages Students use a pulley device to send a message to a friend. Materials Large thread spools (1 per student) Round unsharpened pencils (1 per student) String 6m (20') (1 per pair of students) 2010 Mad Science Mad Machines 2

3 Paper clips (1 per student) Papers (1 per student) Markers (1 per student) Procedure 1. Divide the class into pairs of children. 2. Give each pair two spools, two unsharpened pencils, a string, two paper clips, two papers and two markers. 3. Ask the students to tie the string into one large loop. 4. Instruct the students to fit the pencils through the centers of their spools like a roll of toilet paper on its holder. 5. Instruct each pair to loop the string over their spools and stand 3m (10') apart. 6. Have students hold the ends of their pencils. Explain that the message will run more smoothly if they avoid touching the spool. 7. Have the students try the pulley system by pulling on the string. 8. Have the students write messages to send back and forth on the string. 9. Have them use the paper clips to attach the messages to the string. Moving the string sends a message to the opposite end. Explanation A pulley is a rope or cable that moves over a wheel. The wheel may be grooved or otherwise shaped to hold the cable. You can change the direction of force using one pulley. A pulley can help raise a flag to the top of a flagpole or raise a pail out of a well. Used together, multiple pulleys make work easier. They can lift heavy objects like pianos and even cars! 2010 Mad Science Mad Machines 3

4 AFTER THE WORKSHOP Here are some activities you may wish to do with the class after the workshop to reinforce and expand the science concepts. Wonderful Wedges Students learn how a wedge helps to make work easier. Materials Large plastic tub filled with uncooked rice (1 per group) Rectangular block (1 per group) Triangular block (1 per group) Procedure 1. Divide the class into groups of five. 2. Give each group a tub of rice, a rectangular block and a triangular block. 3. Instruct each group to smooth the surface of the rice so it is evenly distributed. 4. Instruct each group to place the rectangular block in the rice at one end of the box. Make sure the blocks are surrounded by rice. 5. Have groups push the block to the other end of the box. Tell them to observe the amount of effort needed. They should also watch what happens to the rice as the block is pushed through it. 6. Instruct students to remove the rectangular block and smooth the rice so it is evenly distributed. 7. Have groups place the triangular block in the rice at one end of the box with the base of the triangle against the wall and the point of the triangle facing the opposite end of the box. Make sure the block is surrounded by rice. 8. Have groups push the block to the other end of the box. Tell them to observe the amount of effort needed. They should also watch what happens to the rice as the block is pushed through it. Do they notice any differences between the rectangle and the triangle? Explanation Wedges are inclined planes that split things apart. They make it easier to push or split things apart with less force. The triangle pushes through the rice more easily than the rectangle. An axe is an example of a wedge. When woodcutters split wood they pound a wedge into the log to force it apart. Knives are also wedges. The bows of boats and ships are wedge-shaped to cut through the water. This makes it easier for ships to move forward Mad Science Mad Machines 4

5 Seesaws Students experiment with levers and fulcrums using the scientific method. Materials Ruler 30cm (12") (1 per group) Rubber erasers (5 per group) Thick markers (1 per group) Note: Conduct this experiment as a small group activity or in pairs. Procedure 1. Divide the class into groups of five. Give each group a ruler, five erasers and a thick marker. 2. Instruct each group to balance the middle of the ruler on the marker. 3. Challenge students to balance two erasers at either end of the ruler. The goal is to illustrate that the balancing point, or the fulcrum, needs to be centered with the erasers equidistant from the fulcrum. 3. Ask the students what they think will happen if they move one set of erasers 2.5cm (1") closer to the center. 4. Have them test their hypotheses by moving the erasers. 5. Challenge the students to balance their levers while they add or remove erasers on either end. 6. Chart the results on the board. Keep record of changes when students alter variables, including the distance from the fulcrum and the amount of erasers. Give students time to predict, test and record their results. Explanation This is just like a seesaw! This kind of simple machine is called a lever. The part where the lever is supported or balanced is called the fulcrum. The two sides balance when the loads have equal mass and distance from the fulcrum. Adding more weight or moving a load further from the fulcrum gives it more force Mad Science Mad Machines 5

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7 Language Arts MORE TO DO Add the words from the vocabulary section of this guide to your next list of spelling words. Brainstorm a list of common objects that are or include simple machines. Some examples include ramps, crowbars, clotheslines and scissors. Ask your students to write a short story where the characters use at least five of these simple machines. Read some odes with your students to familiarize them with this kind of poem. Have your students write an ode to their favorite simple machine. Art Introduce some examples of sculptures such as Alexander Calder s famous mobiles. Have your students create mobiles based on the principles of levers and fulcrums. Kinetic sculptures have parts that move or are in motion. Have your students work together to design and build a kinetic sculpture like a Rube Goldberg device using different simple machines and other materials. Math Integrate simple machine vocabulary into word problems. For example, a lever can be used to lift rocks. First, Bob loaded three rocks on the end of the lever and then put on another four rocks. How many rocks did the lever lift all together? Use a balance with a fulcrum to teach counting, addition or multiplication. A balance is a lever. How many weights are on one side? How many are needed to balance them? For example, to balance ten weights, young children can count out ten more weights to practice counting. They can add five plus five weights to practice addition. Older children can add five groups of two weights to practice multiplication. Teach students how to calculate the circumference of a circle (c=2pi r). This is the distance a wheel and axle travels with every rotation. Have children calculate how many rotations a wheel must turn to travel across a table, across the room, or across town Mad Science Mad Machines 7

8 Social Studies Have your students conduct research reports on the history of simple machines in ancient Greece or Renaissance Europe. Invite an engineer to visit your classroom and talk about simple machines in the workplace Mad Science Mad Machines 8

9 BOOKS Experiments & Activities Title: Science magic with machines Author: Oxlade, Chris Publisher: Barrons Juveniles ISBN#: Description: This book includes ten magic tricks, including a mystery box that appears to make objects disappear, that all involve the use of simple machines. This book is appropriate for students in 3 rd to 6 th grade. Title: Machines at work Author: Ward, Alan Publisher: Franklin Watts ISBN#: Description: This book provides an introduction to machines, from levers and pulleys to complicated machinery. It also includes instructions for activities to illustrate how simple machines work. This book is appropriate for students in 1 st to 3 rd grade. Title: Science book of machines Author: Ardley, Neil Publisher: Harcourt Brace ISBN#: Description: This book presents simple experiments to illustrate the basic concepts of simple machines. This book is appropriate for students in 3 rd to 6 th grade. Storybooks Title: The day off machine Author: Himmelman, John Publisher: Silver Press ISBN#: Description: Graham has a new invention that combines with a big snowfall to force his busy beaver family to take a day off from their chores. This book is appropriate for students in 1 st to 3 rd grade Mad Science Mad Machines 9

10 Title: Axel Annie Author: Pulver, Robin Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers ISBN#: Description: Axel Annie is the best school bus driver in town, especially when it comes to driving her bus up the town s toughest snow-covered hill. As a result, the superintendent never has to declare a snow day. The grouchy bus driver Shifty Rhodes hatches a plan to stop Axel Annie in her tracks. This book is appropriate for students in 1 st to 3 rd grade Mad Science Mad Machines 10

11 VOCABULARY Complex machine: A machine with several parts, some of which are simple machines. Inclined plane: A slanting surface connecting a lower level to a higher level. An inclined plane makes it easier to lift or move loads. It is one of the six simple machines. A wheelchair ramp is an example of an inclined plane. Lever: A simple machine that lifts or moves loads. All levers consist of a stiff bar that turns about a pivot called a fulcrum. Some examples include a seesaw and a crowbar. Pulley: A simple machine that consists of a grooved wheel, around which a rope or chain is pulled to raise a weight. If more than one pulley wheel is used on the same rope, a heavy weight can be lifted with a small amount of force. Flagpoles and construction cranes use pulleys. Screw: A simple machine with a spiraled, grooved cylinder. It acts as an inclined plane wrapped around a pole. Screws lift or help hold things together. Simple machine: A device that lets us do work with less effort. It does not do all the work for us, as a complex machine would. A simple machine allows us to use less force than we would otherwise. Humans invented six simple machines to make work easier. They are the wedge, inclined plane, screw, lever, pulley, and wheel and axle. Wedge: A simple machine with at least one slanting side ending in a sharp edge. Wedges cut or spread objects apart. Knives, axes and nails are all examples of wedges. Wheel and axle: A wheel with a rod, called an axle, through its center. Both parts move together. This simple machine makes it easier to lift or move loads. Cars, bikes and door knobs all include examples of a wheel and axle. Work: The amount of force needed to complete an action, and the distance needed to do it. Work equals force multiplied by distance Mad Science Mad Machines 11

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13 ASSESSMENT QUIZ The next page contains a series of questions designed to help assess students understanding of the concepts in the workshop. It is in a pop quiz format to photocopy and give to students to complete after the workshop. Answer Key to Mad Machines Quiz: 1. A 2. C 3. A 4. B 5. B 6. C 2010 Mad Science Mad Machines 13

14 Mad Machines Quiz Circle the correct answer for each question. 1. A simple machine makes work: a) easier b) harder c) slower 2. Which is an example of a simple machine? a) A ball b) A computer c) An axe 3. You can use a pulley to: a) raise a flag b) cut wood c) knit a sweater 4. A wheelchair ramp is a(n): a) screw b) inclined plane c) wedge 5. You can use a wedge to: a) raise a flag b) cut wood c) knit a sweater 6. Which is not a simple machine? a) wheel and axle b) lever c) table 2010 Mad Science Mad Machines 14

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16 PAPER ACTIVITIES Word Search The words in the list are hidden in the grid below. Circle all the words that you can find. O R M L J G Z L A S N M W I Y E L L U P I E V A V M N Z S Q T M G G Y C J S K C Q W P R G D F H F Q P Q L L X E B E A I S S U P E I N Z J W Q N W H E E L A N D A X L E S O V W L W R E R K Q V W Q O P J U O E D M K X Z Y S C R E W R V K C E F G S Z B B P Q K E L B C V S U R G N N M X L J Word List INCLINED PLANE LEVER MACHINE PULLEY SCREW SIMPLE WEDGE WHEELANDAXLE WORK 2010 Mad Science Mad Machines 16

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18 Simple Machines Double Puzzle Unscramble each of the clue words. Copy the numbered letters into the boxes at the bottom to find out the answer. What do you do if Sally Skunk invites you to seesaw with her?! 2010 Mad Science Mad Machines 18

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