COMPLEX PROBLEMS, SIMPLE MACHINES

Project Overview
Grade Level
Cycle 3

Children enjoy learning by doing and they want to understand how things work. This is the basis of
"Complex Problems, Simple Machines." Students will have the opportunity to take control of their
learning by following this approach, which introduces the art of problem solving to cycle 3 students
using the concepts of simple machines, the work they do, and how they affect people. By creating
their own simple machines, students will learn basic physics concepts and the processes of
scientific investigation and evaluation. This project consists of activities that are directed by the
students, follow constructivist principles, and relate to simple machines. The teacher may change
the simple machines used. Students are asked to formulate plans and to self-evaluate each of the
activities in which they participate.
The activities we suggest are construction of a Wheel and Axle and Inclined Plane
Upon completion of these activities, students are asked to complete a more complex activity
posed as a challenge, using the principles and concepts they learned completing the
less complex activities.

Students will have the opportunity to take control of their learning by following this
approach:

The Challenge
Application
of new
knowledge
Proposed Solution

Reflection & Learning

Building, Testing, Evaluating

Subject Content
Simple machines
Suggested Timeline
(Some activities can be further divided into multiple sessions.)
Activity 1: 2 hours Activity 2: 2 hours Activity 3:3 hours Total number of hours: approx, 7
Duration of project: approximately 10 days

Project Activities
Activity 1: Wheel and Axle. While learning about wheels and axels, students design and
build a self-propelled train.
Activity 2: Inclined Plane. While learning about inclined planes, students design and
build a device to move the train made in the wheel-and-axel activity up a ramp.
Activity 3: Challenges. After students have completed previous activities, choose one of
the four challenges that relate to previous learning.
Competencies
The science and technology competencies involved in this project are listed below. (The
project activities that address the competencies are noted in parenthesis.) More
detailed lists of competencies are located within each activity.
Science and
Technology
Competencies
Competency 1: To take action, bearing in mind the different
types of reasoning specific to science and technology
(1,2,3,4,5)
Competency 2: To appreciate how human activities are
influenced by the specific contribution of science and
technology (1,2,3,4,5)
Project Collaboration 925
effort
Background Information for Teachers
Wheel and axles are examples of simple machines, which are tools with almost no moving parts that
lessen the force (a push or pull) needed to move objects. By decreasing the effort required to move
the object, the force must applied over a greater distance.

Inclined Planes
An inclined plane is a slanted flat surface that reduces the force required to lift or lower an object
by rolling or sliding it along the surface.

Wheel and Axle

A wheel or spoke is locked to a central axle so that when one is turned the other must
turn. A longer motion at the edge of the wheel is converted to a shorter more powerful
motion at the axle. In reverse, a short powerful force at the axle will move the wheel's
edge a greater distance.

Examples:
• Doorknobs
• Cars
• Rollerblades
Vocabulary List (These words are defined within the activities.)

Axle Effort Inclined plane Load Wheel

Resources for Teachers

BOOKS
• Macaulay, David. The Way Things Work. CD-ROM. New York: Dorling.Kindersley
Multimedia, 1994.
• O'Brien, Robert. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. 1971
• Paterson, Katherine. Bridge to Terabithia. 1977
• L'Engle, Madeleine. A Wrinkle in Time. 1962
• Taylor, Theodore. The Bomb. 1995
928 Project Collaboration

INTERNET BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Mechanic Exhibit at the Franklin Institute http://sln.fi.edu/tfi/exhibits/mecahnic.html

• Newton's Apple - Slinky Physics http://www.tpt.org/newtons/9/slink
• Grade Five Science - Machines and Work
http://www.sasked/gov.sk.ca/docs/elemsci/gr5ugesc.html