Simple Machines Basic Lessons | Paper and Digital

Teach background knowledge on levers, pulleys, inclined planes, screws, wedges, wheels, and axles with these ready-to-print activities. Everything you need to teach the basics of simple machines is included and you'll be teaching with just a few moments of prep.

This resource is included in our Grade 4 Alberta Science Bundle.

This resource is part of our Simple Machines Bundle.

This engaging resource includes:

• step-by-step instructions for each activity.
• Interactive notebook templates are included for each of the lessons so your students can build a resource guide. These have variations so you can easily differentiate for your students including a version that doesn't require cutting and pasting.
• a digital version of all the activities.
• photographs of student examples.
• background information for teachers.
• names of simple machines (screw, lever, pulley, wheel & axle, wedge, and inclined plane), simple machines used by Indigenous People, classes of levers, types of pulleys, wheels versus rollers, basic drive systems, types of gears, forces (contact and non-contact).

None of these lessons require building or any special materials. 

This resource aligns with:

• the Alberta Program of Studies Grade 4 Science (Wheels and Levers and Building Devices That Move)

This resource supports science concepts from these provinces and territories:

• Saskatchewan: FM5.1 Analyze the effects of...mechanical forces... Grade 4
• British Columbia and Yukon Territory: Simple Machines and their Forces Grade 5
• Northwest Territories: Pulleys and Gears Grade 4
• Manitoba: Forces and Simple Machines Grade 5
• any upper elementary or middle school science unit about simple machines

Ninja Note: This file is a PDF and requires printing or copying the digital file. To use the digital version click on the link inside the PDF.

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