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Subject

Math, Science & Technology, Science (NYS P-12)

Objective

The students will be able to draw and label the 3 classes of levers and provide real-world examples for all three.

Description

This lesson is designed for the use of a SMART board and enables students to interact with the interface and have a more engaging educational experience. Due to the interaction of this lesson, it is to be used only in the SMART Notebook.

Website(s)

Simple Machines

Procedure:

As an introduction to this lesson, the first page of the SMART Notebook file should be used. The website allows students to identify different simple machines in their own homes. After the website is completed, the next slide shows a flash file on levers and can be activated by the students in the class. They can engage themselves in the problem-solving situation on the flash file.

After the activity is completed, the teacher should advance to Slide 2. This is a first class lever. As the students copy down the diagram, the teacher can explain what is happening and how the lever works. Then, the instructor can explain the labels of the diagram and introduce three new vocabulary words; Effort, Fulcrum and Load. On the next slide, the diagram is there, but the labels are not. Have the students label the diagram themselves and then "magically" reveal the correct answers using the "Magic Erase" ability on the SMART Notebook. The last reinforcement is having the students create their own first class lever with the items on the next slide. The students can drag the shapes to create a first class lever. For the second-class lever, the teacher should repeat steps 1-4. For the third class lever, the students should copy down the diagram and again fill in the labels on the other example of a fisherman. The students should then answer the questions on the 3rd example of a rake.

• Levers for SMART Notebook

Guided Practice

The activities in this presentation can be used as a guided practice.

Independent Practice

Use the website to have the students find more levers in their homes.

Evaluation

Completion of the guided and independent practice will be the evaluation for this lesson.

Related Academic Standards

New York State

S.MS.PS.2.2 Students who demonstrate understanding can plan an investigation to provide evidence that the change in an object’s motion depends on the sum of the forces on the object and the mass of the object.

MST4.I.PS5.2 Students observe, describe, and compare effects of forces (gravity, electric current, and magnetism) on the motion of objects.