Levers & Pulleys
Investigation 1
Part 1
Introduction to Levers
Students are introduced to levers as devices that help lift weight and overcome resistance.
3. Lesson set up and Management
1. Systems
- Structure of Systems
1.2.1 Systems Approach
Describe how the parts of a system interact and influence each other.
(ST01, STI02, STI03, & STI04) - Changes in Systems
1.3.1 Nature of Forces
Know the factors that determine the strength and interactions of the various forces.
(CH01 1.3.1)
2. Inquiry
- 2.1 Investigating Systems
- 2.1.1 Questioning
Generate questions that can be answered through scientific investigations.
(IN01 2.1.1) - 2.1.4 Modeling
Correlate models of the behavior of objects, events, or processes to the behavior of the actual things under investigation; test models by predicting and observing actual behaviors or processes.
(IN04 2.1.4)
A lever is a simple machine that people use to gain an advantage, such as making work easier.
Effort is the force needed to move a load or overcome a resistance.
3. Lesson set up and Management
Materials:
1. Set up a student journal: teacher should set up student response booklets with black-line masters and blank pages for student responses.
2. Option: instead of taping the dowel to the desk the student puts two or more heavy textbooks to keep the dowel in place.
3. Teacher will need one large board demonstration purposes (2”X4”X10’).
4. A board needed as a fulcrum (2”X 4”X 4”).
Student Management:
Discuss appropriate usage of science materials. Students should only have the materials necessary for this lesson. All materials should be returned in the condition in which they were distributed and should only be used in the manner for which they were intended.
• Check for student understanding of the decimal system and notation before using scales.
• Watch the video included in the kit.
• Partner students up to share one set of materials.
• Make overhead transparencies of all Student Work Sheets to aid in review and discussion.
• Read Teacher and Student background sections before doing the investigations.
Writing Support:
Have each student keep a Science Journal with all of the black-line masters that have been handed out. Students should write down Content/Inquiry questions given in the manual for each of the investigations. In the back of the journals, students should keep a running glossary of all of the terms used in the unit. The journals would ultimately be a source for assessment at the end of the unit.
Reading Support:
Simple Machines (see Science Stories folio in teacher manual)