Simply Compounding

Purpose: To create a compound machine from various simple machines

Materials

• internet
• drawing software
• science journal

Teacher Note:
Students will need to know how to copy and paste pictures from the Internet into a new document. It will also be helpful if they are able to use computer software to draw a final product and present their work.

Internet Sites

• Invention Dimension
  http://web.mit.edu/afs/athena.mit.edu/org/i/invent/
• Inventor’s Toolbox
  http://www.mos.org/sln/Leonardo/InventorsToolbox.html
• Marvelous Machines
  http://www.galaxy.net/~k12/machines/index.shtml
• Rube Goldberg
  http://www.rube-goldberg.com/

Procedure

1. Working with a partner and using the suggested web sites, locate examples of simple machines.
2. In your science journal, write a definition of the six different simple machines: lever, pulley, screw, inclined plane, wheel and axle, and wedge.
3. Import a picture of each machine into a program such as Kid Pix® or The Writing Center®. Label each picture with the name of the machine.
4. Visit the Rube Goldberg web site and look at the gallery of pictures created by Mr. Goldberg. Discuss his use of simple machines to make a more complex machine for a simple task.
5. Using a program such as Kid Pix®, create a drawing of a brand new contraption by using at least two simple machines.
6. Name the machine and write a description of how it works and how it is used to help make life more “simple.” Be sure to label all the parts.