The Marble Machine

Levers

This week we learned about levers. Children identified and practiced using levers,  the claw of a hammer, a can opener, nutcracker,  scale and  see saw. Children learned that a lever has a bar and a pivot. At the end of the week we discussed what children had learned about using the see saw. Comments included, "It goes up and down", "If it doesn't have a fulcrum, it would be a bench." "Sometimes you were both the same. That was easier than if one of us was heavy and one of us was light.""I learned how to hold on." "I used my feet to get up."

Children constructed mini-catapults. We had a group launching this week, which was great fun! Ping pong balls were flying and bouncing.

A car jack mounted on a piece of wood was brought into the classroom. A cement block was attached. Children practiced cranking the jack up and down. Using the crank was challenging.  After lifting the block with their hands, and then with the jack, children, appreciated the function of a simple machine. It makes the job easier and sometimes more fun!

Push and Pulley