Simple Machines Stations or Labs for Third and Fourth Grades

Explore simple machines with age-appropriate stations or labs – and everyday items found in your classroom! As third or fourth grade students investigate inclined plane, levers, pulleys, wedges, screws, wheels and axles, they observe how the force is spread over a greater distance and/or changes direction.

Open the preview to take a closer look at the seriously fun science activities.

First, introduce work and simple machines. A one-page handout or anchor chart explains in simple terms.

Second, set up the stations!

• Inclined plane – Students lay a book against two stacked books at an angle. They attach a stretchy rubber band to a heavy object (like a coffee mug or canned good). Then they measure the length of the rubber band when pulling the mug straight up and when pulling it up the inclined plane.
• Lever – Students build a lever by placing a ruler on top of a pencil. They experiment with five coins to see how moving the fulcrum affects the force needed.
• Pulley – Students use a tape dispenser to investigate how a single pulley works. Optional: Add a second dispenser to explore how multiple pulleys spread force over a greater distance.
• Wedge – Students create a wedge by folding a piece of cardstock. Then they explore how the sharp tip helps them penetrate a piece of clay, as well as how the sloped sides spread force over a greater distance.
• Wheel and axle – Students attach a stretchy rubber band to a toy car. They pull the car across a flat surface with the car on its back, as well as on its wheels.
• Screw – Students wrap a piece of paper around a pencil to illustrate that a screw is actually an inclined plane. Then they use a screwdriver to drive a screw into a board.
• Extra exploration – Students try to open containers with lids of varied diameters. (If possible, remove a door knob in your classroom and let kids try to turn the axle only.)

For each simple machine, students also consider applications for everyday use and list devices that use them.

After debriefing, give a short quiz. In third and fourth grades, standards only require students to explore and identify simple machines. In keeping with this, the assessment only asks kids to identify the inclined plane, lever, pulley, wedge, wheel and axle, and screw.

Files include everything you need for simple machines stations:

• Lesson plans
• Simple machines reference guide
• Lab sheets for six stations and extra exploration
• Station signs
• Quiz

Your students will love it – and so will you!

• Let’s face it, kids get into hands-on exploration. They’ll enjoy building and testing their own simple machines.
• When your students are happy, you’re happy! With hands-on learning, everyone wins.
• Materials are commonly found in classrooms – which means that you save time and money.
• Activities address the intent of your standards. For example, if you teach, Indiana 4-PS2-1 or Virginia SOL.3.2.c, you can rest assured that students will investigate, build, and identify simple machines.

Enjoy teaching!

Brenda Kovich