Free Simple Machines Experiment | Paper and Digital

Get your students inspired to learn about simple machines with this easy and quick experiment that shows students how machines help us. Students will learn the scientific process while learning how to run a safe experiment and you only need to grab a few common things from home.

This resource is part of our Simple Machines Unit.

This introductory resource includes:

• instructions with tips for how to run the experiment and follow-up activity.
• student pages that follow the scientific method.
• an experiment to show students how machines make work easier and faster.
• a follow-up activity to help students apply what they have learned.
• digital versions of all the student pages. You will need to open the resource PDF to find the digital link.

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
• Manitoba: Forces and Simple Machines Grade 5
• any upper elementary or middle school science unit about simple machines

Do you teach science in Alberta? We have science units for you!

• Learn how we're adjusting resources to align with the new science curriculum in Alberta.
• Grade 3 Full Year of Lessons and Activities
• Grade 4 Full Year of Lessons and Activities
• Grade 5 Full Year of Lessons and Activities
• Grade 6 Full Year of Lessons and Activities

Do you teach science in another region? 

• Waste in Our World Unit
• Light and Shadow Unit
• Plant Growth Unit
• Simple Machines Unit
• Weather Unit
• Wetland Ecosystems Unit
• Electricity and Magnetism Unit
• Chemistry Unit
• Astronomy Unit
• Human Body Systems

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.

Have a question? Before contacting us, check our Frequently Asked Questions page.