9 Backward Design Plan Template

Title: Movable Pulley Systems Subject/Course: Science Time: 40 Minutes

Level: 4

Lesson Description
Students will review the basic principles of machinery learned in the “Fixed Pulley Systems” lesson and apply it to the
Movable Pulley Systems. By creating a movable pulley system of their own, they will explore the differences between
fixed pulley systems and movable pulley systems. In a worksheet they will identify the input and output forces, the
direction of force, and decide what the use of movable pulleys as opposed to fixed pulley systems in daily life.

Stage 1: Desired Results

Big Question (link to the real world)
How do movable pulley systems work? How do they differ from fixed pulley systems?
Ontario Curriculum Overall Expectation

1. Evaluate the impact of pulleys and gears on society and the environment.
2. Investigate ways in which pulleys and gears modify the speed and direction of, and the force exerted on,
moving objects.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the basic principles and function of pulley systems and gear systems.
Ontario Curriculum Specific Expectation
1.1 Assess the impact of pulley systems and gear systems on daily life.

2.4 Use appropriate science and technology vocabulary, including pulley, gear, force, and speed, in oral and written
communication

3.1 Describe the purposes of pulley systems and gear systems

High-Ended/Inquiry Questions:
- How does lifting this load compare to lifting the load with a fixed pulley? Why does it feel different to lift it?
- If the direction of force is the same as lifting with your hands, why does the pulley make this job easier?
Key Concepts and/or skills to be learned/applied: Prior Knowledge Activation:
- Movable pulleys and how they differ from fixed - input force
pulleys - output force
- Where you would use a fixed pulley system and - fixed pulleys
where you would use a movable pulley system? - mechanical advantage
- direction of force
Stage 2: Planning learning experience and instruction
Learning Goals: “clearly identify what students are expected Instructional Strategies: See Chapter 6 Gregory and
to know and be able to do, in language that students can Chapman, Beyond Monet PDF, Wees “56 different
readily understand.” examples of formative assessment”.
Success criteria: “describe in specific terms what successful
attainment of the learning goals looks like” (Growing
Success p. 33).
Learning goals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4ZaMC5L_Cs
- Differentiate between fixed pulleys and
movable pulleys
- Identify mechanical advantage
- Identify input and output forces
- Identify direction of force

Success Goals:
- Identify where fixed pulleys would be used in
real life and where movable pulleys would be
more appropriate
 - Identify input and output forces in a diagram of
a movable pulley system
- Identify the direction of force in an experiment
of a movable pulley system.
Materials/Student Groupings Differentiation
Students will be grouped in pairs

Pulley

String

Spring Scale

Load - a 200g mass, or a book

Ruler

Metre stick

Two desks

Assessment For Learning, Checking for Understanding & Feedback

Students will complete a worksheet that compares movable pulley systems with fixed pulley systems. They will
then get a “glow and grow” assessment back.
Stage 3: Learning Activity
Motivational Hook (20 MINS.):
There are three pulley systems that we’re going to talk about. Yesterday we
covered the first one - the fixed pulley. Now we’re moving on to the movable
pulley. Unlike the fixed pulley, the movable pulley isn’t attached to a
structure. Rather, there’s a weight attached to the pulley that you lift. And
while the effort to pull a load with the fixed pulley is the same as the weight
of the load, with the movable pulley, you only have to place in half the amount
of effort. That’s what we call a mechanical advantage of 2, because the machine
is doing twice as much work as you. The fixed pulley, then has a mechanical

Open (10 MINS):

You’ll be creating your own movable pulley system today. While you’re doing
you’re experiment, I want you to think about a couple of things. Which way are
you pulling your load, and why is it easier to do it with a pulley instead of
with your hands?

Body (modeling, collaborative work, individual = gradual release of responsibility, synthesis) (10 MINS):
The students will begin to create their own movable pulley system while the teacher comes around and asks them
questions: what is the direction of force. How is it different from lifting a box up from the ground with just their hands
and why is that? How does it differ from the fixed pulley system? Where’s the input force and where’s the output
force? What might they use this for?

Close (success criteria visited) (5 MINS): The students will draw a picture of their movable pulleys before dismantling
it and then they will fill out a worksheet about their experiment.

Stage 4: Reflection
Student Reflection of Learning (metacognition)

Teacher Reflection (WWW/EBI)

Script:

There are three pulley systems that we’re going to talk about. Yesterday we
covered the first one - the fixed pulley. Now we’re moving on to the movable pulley.
Unlike the fixed pulley, the movable pulley isn’t attached to a structure. Rather,
there’s a weight attached to the pulley that you lift. And while the effort to pull a
load with the fixed pulley is the same as the weight of the load, with the movable
pulley, you only have to place in half the amount of effort. That’s what we call a
mechanical advantage of 2, because the machine is doing twice as much work as you.
The fixed pulley, then has a mechanical advantage of one because you and the machine
are both doing the same amount of work.

You’ll be creating your own movable pulley system today. While you’re doing
you’re experiment, I want you to think about a couple of things. Which way are you
pulling your load, and why is it easier to do it with a pulley instead of with your
hands?

1. Draw your pulley system.

2. In your drawing, identify the input and output force.

3. What was the direction of force?

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4. When would you use a movable pulley to lift a heavy object?

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