At Alison’s Montessori, we are so excited to present the most hands-on engaging Montessori-aligned material on simple machine learning! Our complete set consists of a wooden puzzle with movable parts
Simple machines are basic devices that help accomplish physical tasks with few or no moving parts. The six most common simple machines are inclined plane, wedge, screw, lever, pulley, and wheel and axle. They are designed to change the magnitude(direction) of the force, eventually making the task easier to perform. Our new materials include 5 additional simple machines: fulcrum balance, motion converter, gear rack model, block and tackle, and pendulum. Our Simple Machines – Complete Set contains a wooden puzzle with a control chart, 60 research cards, and 60 task cards.
In this blog post, we will introduce 11 simple machines and provide a short description for each simple machine. We will also share some examples of how Alison’s Montessori offers high-quality materials and resources to support the study of simple machines.
Materials
- Simple Machines – Complete Set
- Simple Machines Supplement Materials
- Block and Tackle Model
- Fulcrum Balance Model
- Gear Rack Model
- Gear Train Model
- Lever Model
- Wheel And Axle Model
Other related materials: Simple Machines Set, Simple Machines Mini Bulletin Board Set, STEM Simple Machines Activity Set
Research Cards and Task Cards
The Simple Machines Research Cards are designed to provide practical, scientific information, and historical context about each simple machine. They have been used by humans for thousands of years to make tasks easier or more efficient. Simple machines have played an important role in the development of human civilization and technology. They have been used to build monuments, such as the pyramids of Egyp. They also have been used to create complex machines, such as bicycles, clocks, and engines, which are composed of combinations of simple machines.
The Simple Machines Task Cards are divided into 5 sections: Introduction, Advanced, Differences, True/False, and Constructing Simple Machines. The task cards are designed to promote collaboration, self-assessment, and fact memorization. The set of task cards is scaffolded to correspond to a larger group of learners from ages 9-12.
11 Simple Machines
An inclined plane is a simple machine that consists of a flat surface that is tilted at an angle from the horizontal direction. It helps to move heavy objects up or down by reducing the force needed, but increasing the distance traveled. Some examples of inclined planes are ramps, slides, stairs, and screws.
A lever is a simple machine that helps you move or lift things more easily. It is made of a long bar that can rotate around a fixed point called a fulcrum. When you push or pull one end of the bar, you apply a force to it. This force is then transferred to the other end of the bar, where it can move or lift something else. The lever can change the direction, size, or speed of the force, depending on how you set it up. There are three types of levers, depending on where the fulcrum, the force, and the thing you want to move are located.
A wheel and axle is a simple machine that helps you move or turn things more easily. It is made of a wheel, which is a round disk, and an axle, which is a rod that goes through the center of the wheel. The wheel and axle can change the size or direction of a force, depending on how you use it. Some examples of wheel and axle are doorknobs, steering wheels, and bicycle wheels.
A pulley is a wheel with a groove that holds a rope or a cable. It can change the direction or the amount of force needed to lift or move an object. Pulleys are often used in combination to form a block and tackle system.
A wedge is a triangular-shaped tool that can split, lift, or hold an object in place. It works by converting a force applied to its blunt end into forces perpendicular to its inclined surfaces. Examples of wedges are knives, axes, and nails.
A screw is a cylindrical rod with a spiral groove on its surface. It can fasten two objects together or drill a hole by rotating into the material. The groove, or thread, of a screw, can also act as an inclined plane to lift or lower an object. Examples of screws are bolts, jar lids, and drills.
A block and tackle is a system of two or more pulleys with a rope or a cable threaded between them. It can lift or move heavy loads with less effort by increasing the mechanical advantage. The mechanical advantage is equal to the number of rope sections that support the load.
A fulcrum balance is a device that measures the mass or weight of an object by comparing it with a known mass or weight. It consists of a beam that pivots on a point called the fulcrum. The object and the known mass are placed on opposite ends of the beam, and the balance is achieved when the beam is horizontal.
A gear rack is a bar with straight teeth on one side that meshes with a pinion, which is a small cylindrical gear. It can convert rotary motion into linear motion or vice versa. The gear rack and the pinion must have the same pitch and pressure angle to work properly.
A motion converter is a device that changes one type of motion into another. It can be composed of different simple machines, such as gears, levers, and pulleys. For example, a motion converter can change rotational motion into translational motion by using a gear and a rack, or change translational motion into rotational motion by using a lever and a pivot.
A pendulum is a weight suspended from a fixed point so that it can swing back and forth under the influence of gravity. The time it takes for one complete swing called the period, depends on the length of the pendulum and the gravitational acceleration. Pendulums are used to regulate the movement of clocks and other instruments.
Our new Montessori materials on Simple Machines are designed to help learners explore and understand the world around them. Simple machines are devices that make work easier by changing the direction or magnitude of a force. They are one of the topics that can be introduced to children ages 9-12 as part of the Physical Science curriculum. As we keep on creating innovative science materials that meet learners’ developmental and cognitive needs, we encourage you to frequently visit our website at www.alisonsmontessori.com!
