top of page
SIMPLE MACHINES
Lesson Ideas and Activities
WHAT ARE SIMPLE MACHINES?
Watch this video to examine the six simple machines: the lever, the screw, the pulley, the wheel and axle, the wedge, and the inclined plane.
SCAVENGER HUNT
Use our scavenger hunt activity to identify examples of simple machines and complex machines in your day to day life.
SIMPLE MACHINES QUIZ
Take our quiz to test your knowledge of simple machines! Do you know what tasks each of the simple machines can help us with?
Learn all about levers and explore the relationship between the fulcrum and the lever. Make a DIY catapult!
CURIOUS CONTRAPTIONS
Students design and test a whacky machine to be able to complete a particular task.
RUBBER BAND CARS
A fun way for students to practice prototyping and testing by making a rubber band powered car.
MOTAT COLLECTIONS ONLINE SIMPLE MACHINES HIGHLIGHT
Check out some interesting examples of simple machines from our collection. While you look, try to identify which simple machines each object or image contains. Some have just one machine and some have a whole lot!
Ok Go music video
Ok Go created this video by connecting a series of simple machines together, to create a single chain reaction machine, timed perfectly to their song. Watch the video and go behind the scenes to see how they made it.
Simple Machines kupu list
Key:
Click the icons below to discover more!
Article
Video
Website
Podcast
Activity
Page Turner:
Crazy complex Rube Goldberg machine for turning a page. Created by Joseph ‘Jiwi” Herscher, New Zealand’s crazy Youtube inventor
Simple machines with Lego:
Simple Machines lesson plans that utilise Lego. Catapult, Pulley, Merry-Go-Round, Go Kart.
Simple machines and Maori carving tools:
In depth look at Māori carving techniques, tools and trends.
The Newcommen Steam Engine:
History of the first steam engine that inspired the industrial revolution.
bottom of page