Today was a little bit of a hodge-podge of activities. The first class finished up a second part of the pendulum lab that we didn't get to last week, while the second class created meters to measure the force we were using while doing work both with, and without, an incline plane. And all the classes were introduced to simple machines and where we might find them in our every day world. But first, after testing how the length of the pendulum affected its frequency last week, the oldest class designed their own experiments this week to test if the weight of the bob had any affect on frequency. The two groups each chose a slightly different way to run their tests, but they created data tables and recorded their times and ended up with interesting results. We had a discussion about the ways we might make things more accurate--repeated trials, timing for a longer period and then dividing, which is like getting an average, and not trying to manipulate data to match our hypothesis. Then, it was on to the new topic--simple machines! We introduced what simple machines are in all 3 classes and they did a couple activities to get familiar with the basic machines. They matched the names of the machines with diagrams and their definitions and filled out a chart showing which is which. They identified the types of machines that are found in every day objects, and finally spent some time learning about the three classes of levers and examples of those. In the youngest class, we turned the matching into a game, played with levers and inclined planes, and screws, and got a head start on their I Spy books where they will get to record the simple machines they find around the house this week. Additional InformationVideos:
The Mighty Mathematics of the Lever Short video on how the lever works Bill Nye: Simple Machines A full episode dedicated to how simple machines help us 6 Simple Machines in 1 A Rube Goldberg machine that utilizes all 6 simple machines--this one is fun! Activities: LEGO Gravity Rollers Play with wheels and axles, and gravity, with these self propelled vehicles. DIY Muscle Machine A pulley project, as well as a fun anatomy lesson. Archimedes Screw Make your own of this fun adaptation of Archimedes ancient invention.
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May 2020
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