Simple Machines

The class was assigned a project all about simple machines. This project was broken up using the 5 E's of inquiry.

5 E's of Inquiry
1) Engage
2) Explore
3) Explain
4) Elaborate
5) Evaluate

The Engage part of the lesson was an example sheet of all different kinds of simple machines. The simple machines that were used as an example were an inclined plane, wedge, screw, lever, wheel and axel, and pulley. The paper talked about how each example was a simple machine and explained what they did.

inclined plane

The explore part of the lesson was a 3-2-1 activity based a video from Bill Nye the Science Guy. I had to think of 3 things I discovered, 2 interesting facts, and 1 question I still have. This was thought-provoking and kept me more engaged in the video as I was watching it. 

The explain part had me draw a picture using google drawings of a simple machine. I chose to draw a lever. I drew two people on a see-saw. Google drawing was a useful tool I had never used before this project. 

Here is the link to my drawing.

The elaborate part of the lesson was a simple machines robot game online. This game was entertaining and made me think about how simple machines play a large role in how everything works.

For evaluate, we had to fill out a form stating how we felt about the project. I thought it was engaging and educational, and thought-provoking.