Detail Page
published by
the American Association for the Advancement of Science
This lesson plan is the first of a two-part series for grades 3-5 on the topic of simple machines. It is designed to develop student understanding of the interactive nature of parts in a system. Students work cooperatively to explore a variety of simple machines and discover how they are broken down into interactive parts. Three related activities are accessed online, and would extend the lesson to 3 days. A shorter lesson can be done without the need for computer access. Included is a printable student activity sheet. This is part of a larger collection of lessons, all of which are aligned to AAAS Benchmarks for Scientific Literacy.
Editor's Note: Education research indicates that children in upper elementary grades tend to interpret phenomena by considering qualities of parts, rather than looking at how things interact. This lesson is designed to introduce simple machines as systems, a context to help kids understand interactions.
AAAS Benchmark Alignments (2008 Version)11. Common Themes
11A. Systems
12. Habits of Mind
12C. Manipulation and Observation
NSES Content Standards
Con.B: Physical Science
This resource is part of a Physics Front Topical Unit.
Topic: Dynamics: Forces and Motion
Unit Title: Applications of Newton's Laws This is Part 1 of a two-part multimedia unit on systems, approached from the framework of simple machines. It was developed to address the misconception of a machine as a collection of separate things. Instead, it presents the simple machine as a system to reinforce the concept of interaction. Links to Units:
ComPADRE is beta testing Citation Styles!
Record Link
<a href="https://www.compadre.org/precollege/items/detail.cfm?ID=6579">American Association for the Advancement of Science. Science NetLinks: Systems 1-Simple Machines. Washington, DC: American Association for the Advancement of Science, January 31, 2008.</a>
AIP Format
(American Association for the Advancement of Science, Washington, DC, 1998), WWW Document, (http://sciencenetlinks.com/lessons/systems-1-simple-machines/).
AJP/PRST-PER
Science NetLinks: Systems 1-Simple Machines (American Association for the Advancement of Science, Washington, DC, 1998), <http://sciencenetlinks.com/lessons/systems-1-simple-machines/>.
APA Format
Science NetLinks: Systems 1-Simple Machines. (2008, January 31). Retrieved March 23, 2025, from American Association for the Advancement of Science: http://sciencenetlinks.com/lessons/systems-1-simple-machines/
Chicago Format
American Association for the Advancement of Science. Science NetLinks: Systems 1-Simple Machines. Washington, DC: American Association for the Advancement of Science, January 31, 2008. http://sciencenetlinks.com/lessons/systems-1-simple-machines/ (accessed 23 March 2025).
MLA Format
Science NetLinks: Systems 1-Simple Machines. Washington, DC: American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1998. 31 Jan. 2008. 23 Mar. 2025 <http://sciencenetlinks.com/lessons/systems-1-simple-machines/>.
BibTeX Export Format
@misc{
Title = {Science NetLinks: Systems 1-Simple Machines},
Publisher = {American Association for the Advancement of Science},
Volume = {2025},
Number = {23 March 2025},
Month = {January 31, 2008},
Year = {1998}
}
Refer Export Format
%T Science NetLinks: Systems 1-Simple Machines %D January 31, 2008 %I American Association for the Advancement of Science %C Washington, DC %U http://sciencenetlinks.com/lessons/systems-1-simple-machines/ %O text/html
EndNote Export Format
%0 Electronic Source %D January 31, 2008 %T Science NetLinks: Systems 1-Simple Machines %I American Association for the Advancement of Science %V 2025 %N 23 March 2025 %8 January 31, 2008 %9 text/html %U http://sciencenetlinks.com/lessons/systems-1-simple-machines/ Disclaimer: ComPADRE offers citation styles as a guide only. We cannot offer interpretations about citations as this is an automated procedure. Please refer to the style manuals in the Citation Source Information area for clarifications.
Citation Source Information
The AIP Style presented is based on information from the AIP Style Manual. The APA Style presented is based on information from APA Style.org: Electronic References. The Chicago Style presented is based on information from Examples of Chicago-Style Documentation. The MLA Style presented is based on information from the MLA FAQ. This resource is stored in a shared folder. You must login to access shared folders. |
Save to my folders
