Resources Needed

To implement this lesson, the following items are needed:

• an Early Simple Machines II Set (item #9654) for each group in the class (can be purchased at www.lego.com)
• four wrapped packages containing a small prize for each group member
• Science Center with materials for simple machine experiments provided
  • wooden rulers
  • large textbooks
  • one cup rice
  • plastic sandwich bag
  • twist tie
  • rubber band
  • white paper
  • scissors
  • markers
  • tape
  • nail
  • bolt
  • hammer
  • block of wood
• access to the Internet
• Microsoft Powerpoint
• The book Stuart Little

Students will need prior knowledge in creating a PowerPoint presentation. It may be helpful to use a KWL chart (recording as a class what students know, want to know, and later have learned) to get an idea of students' knowledge of PowerPoint. The PowerPoint user guide found here may also be utilized for review.

Students will need to be familiar with brainstorming. Teachers may have to model brainstorming as an anticipatory set about how simple machines make our work easier prior to Step Six.

Websites used:

• http://www.coe.uh.edu/archive/science/science_lessons/scienceles1/finalhome.htm

• http://www.mos.org/sln/Leonardo/InventorsToolbox.html

• http://www.smartown.com/sp2000/machines2000/main.htm

• http://teacher.scholastic.com/dirtrep/simple/index.htm

• http://www.fi.edu/qa97/spotlight3/spotlight3.html