Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Exploring Simple Machines

Monday, July 11, 2016

The children used tires on the hill to explore
force and motion by moving the tires
up and down the hill. 

Leo and Carraig pushing the tires uphill



We also made 3D creations by using paper fasteners as a simple lever!

Finally , we got to create  our very own catapults, since catapults
are another example of a lever. After using craft sticks, rubber bands,
and bottle caps students were able to use their catapults to explore
force and distance, and how the two are related.

Students here are using the balance board  as an example of a simple
lever. By varying the location of where they placed certain objects, 
the children were able to explore the force which is needed to move 
the lever up and down. 




Leo and Sarah exploring the balance board using wooden blocks


Tuesday , July 12, 2016

Leo, Ian, and Ivan exploring the co-op board




Aubrie and Nora also exploring the co-op board
We worked outside to explore the co-op board, 
another form of the pulley system, Two ends of the rope
were attached to the board,  the children holding the 
other end of the rope had to balance their force on each 
rope to correctly balance the board. 

Leo, Stephen, and Ian working with the clothesline pulley
Using the zip line pulley, children explored how to transfer 
objects and messages from one area to another. By exploring
this, children were able to explore how the bucket moves across
the line and what is needed to make the zip line move?

Alexa, Norah, and Carraig exploring the milk jug pulley

Children explored the milk jug pulleys using a wooden broom,
rope, and a gallon jug.We investigated how will you move the milk jug up and down?
What happens when you change the weight of the milk jug?



Wednesday, July 13,2016





Today we explored the wheel and axel by working together to construct
a car. The car , wheel and axle were all made from clothes pins, buttons, straws,
and twist ties. Children used their knowledge of simple machines and what type of things they 
know are made with wheel and axles, Students were able to figure out how to connect the straws to the buttons. They also were able to figure out where to put the axles in relation to the clothes pin. 


Stephen testing his car at the incline plane

Next, we got to test out cars down the ramp. This ramp is another type of simple machine that was introduced, an incline plane!

Aubrie and Norah building their winches 

Here the children got to construct their own winch, using recycled materials! This experience gave children the opportunity to use the knowledge they know about simple machines and create a simple machine to take home. By problem solving students had to think : how can you make the object move up and down? What do you need to include to make the wheel move? 






At the carpet, while using blocks and marbles, children worked together to create a structure that would support multiple slats and turns. The children used their knowledge of levers, wedges, and incline planes to create the structure and successfully get a marble to turn a corner!



In the afternoon we had fun in the water!



Thursday, July 14,2016


Some of our classmates worked together to build a spaceship garage with magnet tiles


Children used the PVC pipe pulley and explored how the pulley worked. They used what they knew about spatial awareness and aim to try to accurately hit the bowling pins with the attached ball. Many students had to problem solve where and how to line the bowling pins up.

 Then, while using both paint and spools children tried to manipulate the spools and incline plane to accurately knock down the lego people at the end of the ramp. Nora said " I had to change where the people were. They were too close to the end of the ramp. We should add a block to the ramp. It will hit the people faster".
 Ivan stated " if you line all 3 people 1 behind the other, if one person is knocked down, they will all fall down".
Leo's first try he completely missed all 3 people and said " it was too far to the side". Leo then moved the position of the paint spool. It took him several test tries before he knocked the lego people down.
Students explored an archemedes screw and what you need to do to the pipe to get the water to move. Also, how does the water move?What happens if you turn it the other way?

Finally, we went back to explore the zip line pulley again! Transferring the bucket back and forth using a pulley system!


Friday, July 15.2016








Today we finished off our week of simple machines! We continued to experiment with how to get the marbles to turn the corner!These structures included multiple slats , turns, and levers, and inclines.


Students also explored the revolving easel. They noticed that the easel is a single wheel and a single axle, different than a car or bicycle. Here, some of the girls are drawing while rotating the easel. 


The most exciting thing about our final day of camp was combining all machines together to create a 
Rube Goldberg machine! A Rube Goldberg machine includes several simple machines that work together to complete a final task. Students were very engaged in this , working together to find materials and objects . Then they worked to brainstorm and create their very own Rube Goldberg!