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Essential Questions:• What are simple machines?

• What effect do simple machines have on input and output forces?

• How do we use simple machines in our daily life and how can you identify them?

Key Vocabulary:• Simple machines• Work• Input force• Result force• Pulley• Gear• Lever• Screw• Inclined plane• Wheel and axle• Wedge

Unit Overview:

This unit correlates to the Harcourt 4th grade

science curriculum and the unit on simple

machines. In this unit students are introduced to

simple machines, the forces involved in using

simple machines and the effect simple

machines have on these forces.

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Direct Unit Standards:

12.D Apply scientific inquiries or technological designs to explain the characteristics of forces comparing examples of gravitational pull on earth, introducing the concepts associated with weightlessness in space flight, diagramming the directions of forces affecting motion in common examples, or exploring how simple machines work.

Apply scientific inquiries or technological designs to introduce constant, variable and periodic motion, describing examples of motions in everyday situations, exploring mass and initial energy inputs, creating student-action models to demonstrate motions in classroom or playground activities, such as walking in straight lines and in circular paths.

Apply scientific inquiries or technological designs to explore constant, variable and periodic motion, tracing and measuring motion of vehicles in terms of position, direction, acceleration and speed in straight line, circular and inclined paths.

Apply scientific inquiries or technological designs to analyze actions and reactions, examining initial and final forces, manipulating simple direct and inverse proportions to forces, explaining thrust, weight, lift and drag in flight, analyzing gears and gear ratios to do work, or demonstrating Newton's Laws of Motion in terms of space flight.

Supporting Standards:

11.B Construct design prototype selecting the appropriate materials, designing necessary data tables for addressing success criteria, or using materials and tools provided. Collect data from prototype testing recording multiple incremental data sets and procedural observations, or keeping accurate procedural journals and drawings. Analyze data to evaluate design selection or adaptability, synthesizing collected data, or comparing designs, processes, sources of error and success criteria.

Unit Date: June 4-18, 2010 Class: 4th Grade Science Section: Simple Machines

Teachers: Justin Hart, Anna McGowan

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Unit Date: June 4-18, 2010 Class: 4th Grade Science Section: Simple Machines

Teachers: Justin Hart, Anna McGowan

Student Resources:• Inquiry-based lab activities

(e.g., building a catapult, creating a lever, finding simple machines in the classroom)

• Graphic organizers• Videos• BrainPop• Classroom library• EdHeads website

www.edheads.org• Computers• DVD player

Technology Integration:

Students will be exposed to at least one

technology during the group practice

or the independent practice portion of the class.

Whenever appropriate, students will utilize

computers and online resources to research,

compile, format and complete assignments.

Teacher(s) will also utilize appropriate technology in

presenting the content and in assessing student learning.

Examples include: SMARTboard, PowerPoint, overheads,

modeling demonstrations, DVDs, and online quizzes.

NETS Standards

1. Creativity and Innovation

2. Communication and

Collaboration

3. Research and Information

Fluency

4. Critical Thinking, Problem

Solving, and Decision

Making

5. Digital Citizenship

6. Technology Operations

and Concepts

Content:

A. Simple Machines

B. Input /Result Forces

C. Simple Machines in everyday

Skills:

A. Simple Machines1. Understand that all complex machines are made of simple

machines

2. Understand what a simple machine is

3. Identify and define lever, gear, wedge, pulley, wheel and axle, inclined plane, screw and their uses

B. Input / Result Forces1. Recognize the difference between input and output forces

and the effect simple machines have on them

2. Understand how simple machines canchange force and direction of input forces

3. Understand the definition and applications of work

C. Simple Machines in everyday1. Identify simple machines in everyday life and understand

their applications

Assessments:

• Pre-assessment

• Daily quiz

• Observation checklists

• Exit slip

• Question and Discussion

• Peer-student assessments

• Lab work products

• Unit Test

• Group work products