A week-long powerpoint I used to teach my 6th grade students about Simple Machines! Modify it as you please.

1. Just Do It
• What is the purpose of a ramp?
• You’re nailing a nail into a big board,
but the nail bends. How will you
remove it from the board?
• What do an axe, a knife, and a fork
all have in common?

2. Just Do It: Copy This Table
Simple Purpose and Notes Examples
Machine
Inclined Plane
Lever
Pulley
Wedge
Wheel and
Axle
Screw

3. Standard
6-5.7 Explain how the design of
simple machines (including
levers, pulleys, and inclined
planes) helps reduce the
amount of force required to
do work.

4. A simple machine is a
machine that helps you
do work by changing
the amount or direction
of the force you apply.

5. At the end of this activity:
You will write a paragraph
that describes and gives
examples of the 6 simple
machines.

6. Let‟s Learn Together: Gallery Walk
 Rules
 Stay with your group.
 Do NOT leave before time
is called
 Do not linger at a site after
time is called
 Use your “secret voices”
 Copy down notes until time
is called.
 If you finish early, do not
leave your area or speak
louder than a whisper!

8. The 6 Simple Machines
Inclined plane Wedge
Lever
screw
pulley Wheel & Axle

9. Make Notes!
Print a copy of the
data sheet for notes on
this presentation by
clicking the pencil
below.

10. The Inclined Plane
An inclined plane is a flat
surface that is higher on one
end. You can use this machine
to move an object to a lower
or higher place.
Inclined planes make the work
of moving things easier. You
would need less energy and
force to move objects with an
inclined plane.

11. The Inclined Plane
Examples of Inclined
Planes:
Ramp
Slanted Road
Path up a Hill
Slide

12. The Screw
A screw is a simple machine that
is made from another simple
machine. It is actually an inclined
plane that winds around itself.
A screw has ridges and is not
smooth like a nail. Some screws
are used to lower and raise
things. They are also used to
hold objects together.

13. The Screw
Examples of the screw:
Jar Lids
Light Bulbs
Stools
Clamps
Jacks
Wrenches
Key Rings
Spiral Staircase

14. Lever
A lever is a board or bar that
rests on a turning point. This
turning point is called the
fulcrum.
An object that a lever moves is
called the load. The closer the
object is to the fulcrum, the
easier it is to move.

15. Lever
Examples of the lever:
A hammer is a lever
when it is used to pull a
nail out of a piece of
wood.
Bottle openers
Crow bars

16. Pulley
This simple machine is made up of a
wheel and a rope. The rope fits on
the groove of the wheel.
One part of the rope is attached to the
load. When you pull on one side of
the pulley, the wheel turns and the
load will move.
Pulleys let you move loads up, down,
or sideways. Pulleys are good for
moving objects to hard to reach
places. It also makes the work of
moving heavy loads a lot easier.

17. Pulley
Examples of where pulleys
can be used:
 Flag Poles
 Clothes Lines
 Sailboat
 Blinds
 Crane

18. Wheel and Axle
You have probably seen a
wheel and axle on a car. The
axle turns when you put force
on the wheel.
The axle is a rod that goes
through the wheel. This lets
the wheel turn. It is easy to
move things from place to
place with wheels and axles.

19. Wheel and Axle
Examples of Wheels and
Axles:
Cars
Roller Skates
Wagons
Door Knobs
Gears in Watches, Clocks,
and Bicycles

20. Wedge
A wedge is a simple
machine used to push two
objects apart. A wedge is
made up of two inclined
planes. These planes meet
and form a sharp
edge. This edge can split
things apart.

21. Wedge
Examples of wedges:
Knives
Axes
Forks
Nails

22. Resources
Simple Machine Quiz
InventorsToolbox: The
Elements of Machines
Simple Machine Learning
Site
Simple Machines

23. Exit Slip: Writing
Assignment
Choose one of the
simple machines.
Write a paragraph
describing it and giving
examples.

24. Just Do It
Ms. Moye tells you that she would like a
3 page reading report in her class, and it
is due in 3 weeks. Mr. Hilton tells you he
also wants a 3 page reading report for
his class, but it is due tomorrow. Which
assignment is easier to complete?
Why?
 Bonus: What is the definition of a simple machine?

25. Review
What are the 6 types of
simple machines?
Can you name at least
one example of each?

26. Simple machines
make work
easier by
spreading it out!

28. The Pulley
Copy the following words
and leave several lines in
your binder to take notes on
these words.
Fixed Pulley:
Moveable Pulley:
Block and Tackle:

30. Three Types of Pulleys
 Fixed pulley: a pulley that is attached to a
load. It only changes the direction of the
effort
 Moveable pulley: a pulley that moves with
the object being moved. The effort required
to lift the load is cut in half.
 Block and Tackle: a combination of pulleys

31. What kind of Pulley?

32. What kind of Pulley?

33. What kind of Pulley?

34. The Lever
 Draw the following image:
 As the video plays, label your picture with these
words: fulcrum, effort force, load, resistance arm,
effort arm

37. Where is the Fulcrum?

38. Where is the Effort?

39. Where is the Fulcrum?

40. Where is the Resistance Arm?

41. The Inclined Plane
 Inclined planes make it easier to _______________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
___________________.
 The best way to get a bicycle up a steep hill is to
_____________________________.

43. The Inclined Plane
 Inclined planes make it easier to…
 Get up a mountain
 Clear housetops of snow and rain
 The best way to get a bicycle up a steep hill is to
______________________________.

44. Where are the Inclined Planes?

45. Where are
the Inclined
Planes?

46. What did you
LEARN?
Number your paper 1-8

47. What Is It?

48. What Is It?

49. What Is It?

50. What Is It?

51. What Is It?

52. What Is It?

53. What Is It?

54. What Is It?

55. Just DO It
Choose a simple machines.
Write a paragraph describing
it and giving examples.
BONUS: Illustrate your
paragraph!

56. Vocabulary
 A _________ is a grooved -----_______ with a
rope running along the groove.
 ___________ _____________ is the force
required to lift an object
 A ______________ ____________ is used to
measure the force of gravity on an object.

57. Key Ideas
 Pulleys can change the __________ and
________ of the force required to lift an object.
 What kind of pulley(s) changes only the direction of the
force required?
_____________________________________
 What kind of pulley(s) changes the direction and
amount of force required?
_____________________________________

58.  Moveable pulleys are used to reduce
__________ force.
 When the distance the effort force covers is
________________ relative to the distance
the weight moves, effort force required to lift
an object can be _______________.

59. Hypothesis
Which pulley system(s) do you
think will reduce the force required
to do work?

60. Data and Analysis
Pulley System Weight of Object Force Required Force
Lifted (g) to Lift Object (N) Required to
Lift Object with
the PULLEY
Fixed Pulley
Moveable Pulley
Block and Tackle

61.  Answer Questions…

62. Pulley Distance Traveled Distance Traveled
System by Effort Force by Object Lifted
Fixed Pulley
Moveable
Pulley
Block and
Tackle

63.  Answer Questions…

64. Exit Slip
 If you were told to make a flagpole using a pulley
system to raise the flag, what type of pulley
would you install? Why?
 Explain in four sentences or more how force,
distance, and pulleys are related.

65. Inclined Planes

66. Just DO It!
 List the 6 simple machines. Give one
example of each.

67.  An ____________________
_______________ is a sloping surface, like
a ramp, that reduces the amount of force
required to lift an object.

68.  A ___________________
___________________ is used to measure
the force of gravity on an object.

69.  An inclined plane can reduce the force
needed to lift an object in two ways:
 Increase the ___________ of the ______________
 OR…
 Decrease the ____________ of the
_____________

70. Object Force Distance Force Distance
Required to object required to object
Lift straight traveled lift with an traveled
up with lift inclined with
straight up plane inclined
plane
a.
b.
c.

71. Questions…

72. Just Do It
In at least three sentences, explain why this
mountain road might not go straight up the
mountain. Include key words: work, force, distance,
inclined plane
BONUS:
Draw a lever
and label all
its parts!

73. Agenda
 Just Do It: 5
 Key Ideas about Levers: 5
 Lever Demonstration and Questions: 11
 Practice with Lever Questions: 5
 Science Fair Work: 25
 Conclusion: 4

74. Standard
6-5.7 Explain how the
design of simple machines
(including levers, pulleys,
and inclined planes) helps
reduce the amount of force
required to do work

75. Levers
A ___________________ is a
rigid bar or board that is free to
move around a fixed point called a
________________.

76. A lever can be designed to reduce force
required to lift an object in two ways:
 By ______________________ the distance
from the ____________ to the point where
the effort force is applied
 By _____________________ the distance
the ____________ is from the fulcrum

77.  Is it easier to lift the box of books when the
fulcrum is in the center of the board, or when the
fulcrum is at the end of the board closest to the
box?
 Is it easier to lift the box of books when you
apply a force on the effort arm near the fulcrum,
or far away from the fulcrum?
 Name one way you could
change this lever to reduce
the effort force required to lift
the load.

78. Final Key Point
By increasing the distance
the effort force moves
relative to the distance the
weight moves, a lever can
reduce the effort force
needed to lift an object.

79. How are we doing?
 Name two ways this young lady could reduce
the force required to lift this heavy box.
Illustrate one way in your notes!

80. It‟s Science Fair Time!
 Overview of Project– Question: 2 minutes
 Review of Vocabulary: 5 minutes
 Hypothesis: 4 minutes
 Materials: 4 minutes
 Procedure: 10 minutes

81. Question
How does the mass of an object
affect the force required to lift that
object up an inclined plane?
How can we test this question???

82. Hypothesis
What do you think the answer to
our question is? Make an
educated guess!
How does the mass of an object affect
the force required to lift that object up
an inclined plane?

83. Materials
 What will we need to conduct this experiment?
 Take note of materials Ms. Brown provides to you

84. Procedure
 Write every step!
 Think about our peanut butter and jelly
demonstration from the beginning of
the year
 Use complete sentences.
 Use your best grammar and
spelling
 Staple an additional sheet onto this
sheet if necessary.

85. Results
 How will you organize your data? Make one
table or chart that we could use to organize all
of the data.

86. Conclusion:
Was our hypothesis
correct? What did we
learn? Why does this
matter in real life?

87. Just Do It
 Use complete sentences to tell me about your
Christmas break! Include and underline at least
10 key vocabulary words we‟ve studied this year.
 Example: Over break, I observed 12 inches of
precipitation (snow) in my backyard! The snow
came from low-hanging stratus clouds.

88. Agenda
 Just Do It: 9 minutes
 Review of Simple Machines: 12 minutes
 Science Fair Projects: Review and Conclusion
25 minutes
 Wrap Up:

89. Review: Simple Machines
 Speed Review: 1 minute per machine
 Write the name of the simple machine
 Write one key point about that machine
 Time-Permitting, draw an example

90. The Inclined Plane
An inclined plane is a flat
surface that is higher on one
end. You can use this machine
to move an object to a lower
or higher place.
Inclined planes make the work
of moving things easier. You
would need less energy and
force to move objects with an
inclined plane.

91. The Inclined Plane
Examples of Inclined
Planes:
Ramp
Slanted Road
Path up a Hill
Slide

92. The Screw
A screw is a simple machine that
is made from another simple
machine. It is actually an inclined
plane that winds around itself.
A screw has ridges and is not
smooth like a nail. Some screws
are used to lower and raise
things. They are also used to
hold objects together.

93. The Screw
Examples of the screw:
Jar Lids
Light Bulbs
Stools
Clamps
Jacks
Wrenches
Key Rings
Spiral Staircase

94. Lever
A lever is a board or bar that
rests on a turning point. This
turning point is called the
fulcrum.
An object that a lever moves is
called the load. The closer the
object is to the fulcrum, the
easier it is to move.

95. Lever
Examples of the lever:
A hammer is a lever
when it is used to pull a
nail out of a piece of
wood.
Bottle openers
Crow bars

96. Pulley
This simple machine is made up of a
wheel and a rope. The rope fits on
the groove of the wheel.
One part of the rope is attached to the
load. When you pull on one side of
the pulley, the wheel turns and the
load will move.
Pulleys let you move loads up, down,
or sideways. Pulleys are good for
moving objects to hard to reach
places. It also makes the work of
moving heavy loads a lot easier.

97. Pulley
Examples of where pulleys
can be used:
 Flag Poles
 Clothes Lines
 Sailboat
 Blinds
 Crane

98. Wheel and Axle
You have probably seen a
wheel and axle on a car. The
axle turns when you put force
on the wheel.
The axle is a rod that goes
through the wheel. This lets
the wheel turn. It is easy to
move things from place to
place with wheels and axles.

99. Wheel and Axle
Examples of Wheels and
Axles:
Cars
Roller Skates
Wagons
Door Knobs
Gears in Watches, Clocks,
and Bicycles

100. Wedge
A wedge is a simple
machine used to push two
objects apart. A wedge is
made up of two inclined
planes. These planes meet
and form a sharp
edge. This edge can split
things apart.

101. Wedge
Examples of wedges:
Knives
Axes
Forks
Nails

102. Science Fair Projects:
Review and Conclusion

103.  In conclusion, I found that my hypothesis
was _____________. I predicted that
_________________________________
_______________, and my results show
________________________________.
I learned _________________________
______________. This could be helpful
because _________________________.

104. Exit Ticket
 Make a T-chart. Label the left side “I get it” and the
right side “I need a Review”. Put each of the following
in its appropriate column:
 Heat, solar, chemical, and mechanical, and electrical energy
 Energy transformations
 Potential and kinetic energy
 The Law of Conservation of Energy
 Electromagnets, Generators, and Motors
 Energy Transformations
 Heat Transfer
 Work, force, and motion
 Simple Machines

105. Just Do It
Pick three topics from the list below which you would like to
review before our final and cumulative TEST next week.
 Heat, solar, chemical, and mechanical, and electrical
energy
 Energy transformations
 Potential and kinetic energy
 The Law of Conservation of Energy
 Electromagnets, Generators, and Motors
 Heat Transfer
 Work, force, and motion
 Simple Machines

106. Science Fair Projects!
 Guidelines for Group Work:
 Following directions wins
 Positive team work wins
 Going above and beyond wins
 The „winning-est‟ team will receive a team
PRIZE!
 The best class work will be compiled and used
for our class poster

107. Conclusion: Test REVIEW
 Draw one example of each kind of energy
listed below:
 Heat
 Solar
 Chemical
 Mechanical
 Electrical
 BONUS: Illustrate one way electrical energy is
transformed to heat energy (A toaster, is one
example. You find another example!)

108. Just Do It
 List as many everyday tools or objects that
are made up of simple machines as you can
think of.
 Here are some ideas to get you started:
 Door Stopper (inclined plane)
 Knife (wedge)
 Scissors (lever, wedge)
 Lightbulb (screw)
 Crane (pulley)

109. Complex Machines
A Complex Machine is
made up of 2 or more
simple machines.

110. Agenda
 Just Do It: 5 minutes
 Complex Machines: 20 minutes
 Illustration of Complex Machines: 10 minutes
 Review for Exam: 15 minutes
 Conclusion: 5 minutes

111. What Simple Machines Make Up
this Can Opener?

112. What Simple Machines Make Up
this corkscrew?

113. What Simple Machines Make Up
this Clamp?

114. Can you think of another
Complex Machine?

115. Object Simple or Labeled Sketch
Complex?
Door Stopper
Jar Lid
Scissors
Jawbone
Wheelbarrow

116. Your Mission
1. Draw a complex Machine.
2. Label the complex machine.
3. Label the simple machines that
make it up.
4. Define the simple machines
that make it up.
5. Lastly, color the picture.

117. Exam Review: Types of Energy
Heat, solar, chemical, and
mechanical, and electrical
energy
Energy transformations

118. Exam Review
 6-5.1 Identify the sources and properties
of heat, solar, chemical, mechanical, and
electrical energy.

125. Name that Energy Source!