Simple Machines | Basic Lessons and Activities | Wheels and Levers

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

This resource is part of our Simple Machines Unit.

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 does not require cutting and pasting.
• digital versions of all the activities
• photographs of completed student examples.
• background information for teachers.
• addresses simple machines (screw, lever, pulley, wheel & axle, wedge, and inclined plane), 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. They are designed to provide students with background information before building and designing creations of their own. They will create everything with paper or digitally.

Dear Alberta Teacher,

As you know, the science curriculum has recently changed and all Alberta teachers will be using the new outcomes as of September 1, 2024. We are currently working on revising, writing and changing our science resources and there are many changes. Before you purchase this resource, be aware that it may not align with the new science outcomes as of September 1/24. To learn more, visit our site.

This resource aligns with:

• 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

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

• Light and Shadow
• Waste in Our World
• Simple Machines (Wheels and Levers)
• Plant Growth and Changes

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What our ninjas have said about this resource:

***Enjoyable hands on note taking for students. (Thank you Alicia H!)

***I really liked the foldable notes for levers and pulleys, it was great for my fourth graders to have the information in their notebook in a more engaging way. (Thank you Kristen N!)

***Great! Thank you. I really like the notebook style science products in your store. (Thank you Megan's Creative Classroom!)

Thank you for your consideration! Happy learning about simple machines from the Brain Ninjas!