This learning center activity is designed to help students understand the use of simple machines.

1. The Power to Lift Levers and Fulcrums Education 356 Professor Sandrick Tracie Ambrose Spring 2010

2. Academic Standards 3.2.5 Construct something used for performing a task out of paper, cardboard, wood, plastic, metal, or existing objects.

3. Types of Machines Simple Machines Complex Machines

4. Definitions Simple machine—a tool that is used to help make work easier. A simple machine has few or no moving parts. Force—the amount of pressure applied to something Fulcrum-the wedge that a lever is put over that holds it above the flat surface such as a floor or the ground. Load—the object that is being lifted by the lever. Lever—the part of the machine that does the work.

5. What is a Simple Machine? A simple machine is a tool that has few or no moving parts. It makes work easier, and uses energy to work. A teeter totter is one example of a simple machine.

6. Types of Simple Machines Lever Incline Plane Wheel and Axle Screw Wedge Pulley

7. Focus on the Lever Parts of the Lever Lever(arm) Load Force Fulcrum

8. How the Lever Works When pressure (force) is applied to a lever, the lever moves downward. The load that is on the other side of the lever then changes position. The amount of force that is required to move the lever depends on the weight of the load. When the weight of the load and the pressure are equal, the lever balances on the fulcrum.

9. Levers in Our World Where are some places that you will find levers?

10. Lesson Plan Find the materials in the box. With the help of a parent, older sibling, grandparent, etc. follow the lesson plan and discover for yourself how a simple machine such as a lever works. First, lay out the materials. There should be: a nickel, a dime, a ruler, a pencil, and a work sheet to record your ideas.

11. Lesson Plan page 2 Lay the ruler over the pencil so that the pencil is in the middle of the ruler. The pencil becomes the fulcrum. Next put the dime on one end of the ruler. What happens? Why? Record your idea on the worksheet. What do you think will happen if you put the pencil in a different location on the ruler? Record your thoughts.

12. Lesson Plan Page 3 Next, put the nickel on opposite end of the ruler stick. What happens? Record your thoughts? Why did you get the results that you got? What happens if you move the fulcrum (pencil) to a different location under the ruler? Why do you get the results that you get? Record your thoughts. Did your results have anything to do with the weight of the coins?

13. Lesson Plan Page 4 Now, see how many dimes will cause the nickel to balance. What did you find? Record your thoughts about this? If you could not get the lever to balance, why do you think this is? How many nickels and dimes would it take to make the lever balance? Record your thoughts or findings.

14. Lesson Plan Page 4 Where can we find levers around the house? In our neighborhood? Give some examples. Draw a simple machine that uses a lever. Label the parts of the simple machine.

15. Assessment What would happen if you put two objects of the same weight on each end of the ruler? a. The right side will drop first. b. The left side will drop first. c. The ruler will balance itself.

16. References "The United States Mint." The US Mint. The US Department of Treasury, n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2010. <https://www.usmint.gov/kids/teachers/lessonPlans/viewLP.cfm?lessonPlanID=170&view=print>. This website gives educators sample lesson plans that involve science and money. The lesson plans involve multiple grades.