Simple Machine Week

Hello,

I just got out of my team meeting and need to run to see my nephew's last track meet of the year, so I'm going to be quick. 

We have gone through the different simple machines: wheel & axle, inclined plane, wedge, screw, lever, pulley and gear.  Now we are going to be putting them together and trying to make something work.  I'm rushing this a bit, but we're going to shoot for Thursday afternoon as our day to put everything together.  Students are welcome to work at home and bring things in, but at some point on Thursday they need to show me a mechanism that has at least six of the simple machines in it.  Once they have done that, they will be free to try to connect it with someone else's invention.  The goal is to connect each invention to at least one other.  Our goal differs a bit from some of the classes that held the invention fair a couple weeks ago.  They focused on making a useful machine that included some simple machines.  I don't care about usefulness, but I do care that kids use most or all of the simple machines and can show me how they make work easier (or faster). 

Tonight's homework is to do a little sketch of what you might be able to put together this week.  Simple machines must be labeled.  We tested some different ideas today, and we will have two more days of testing time before we'll jump into the ultimate creations. 

Thanks for reading.  Have a good night.

Mr. Shea