Wheels and Axles!

Purpose
The purpose of this lesson will be to describe and explain the wheel and axle as a simple
machine and show its many uses in everyday life.

Science SOL 3.2 The student will investigate and understand simple machines and their
uses. Key concepts include
a) purpose and function of simple machines;
b) types of simple machines;
c) compound machines; and
d) examples of simple and compound machines found in the school, home, and work
environments.

National Science Education Standards

E.E.1 Abilities of technological design
a. Identify a simple problem.
b. Propose a solution.
c. Implementing proposed solutions.
d. Evaluate a product or design.
e. Communicate a problem, design,
and solution.

E.E.2 Understandings about science and technology

a. People have always had questions about their world. Science is one way of answering
questions and explaining the natural world.
b. People have always had problems and invented tools and techniques (ways of doing
something) to solve problems. Trying to determine the effects of solutions helps people
avoid some new problems.
c. Scientists and engineers often work in teams with different individuals doing different
things that contribute to the results. This understanding focuses primarily on teams
working together and secondarily, on the combination of scientist and engineer teams.
d. Women and men of all ages, backgrounds, and groups engage in a variety of scientific
and technological work.
e. Tools help scientists make better observations, measurements, and equipment for
investigations. They help scientists see, measure, and do things that they could not
otherwise see, measure, and do.

Objectives
The student will be able to identify and define what a wheel and axle is and what its use in
everyday life is with 100% accuracy when given a worksheet at the end of the lesson.

Procedure

Introduction

Engagement- To catch the attention of the students I will perform a quick

discrepant event as follows:

Students will be shown a brick. I will explain that we are going to try to
move the brick in 2 different ways. First, I will push it across the desk by
itself. Next, I will use 2 straws and 4 spools to place the brick on top of to
move. (The spools represent the wheel and the straws will represent the
axle)

Which way do you think will move the brick more easily? Why do you think
this?

After the discrepant event students will be shown numerous items from home that
are wheels and axles, so they can get a better feel for the simple machine.

If the students are seated in small groups, give an item to each group and
have them discuss. See if they can find what they think might be a wheel
and an axel in each item.

Ask if they have any idea what makes these items wheels and axles.

Development

Exploration- To meet the process skills of inferring, predicting, communicating and

observing students will be broken down into small groups of about 5. They will be
given one recording sheet and 5 minutes to see if they can find 1 or 2 examples of
things they think may be wheels and axles around the classroom.

Ask them to find items with similar characteristics to the items you showed
them.

Explanation- Before going over our findings I will conduct a small lecture on the
wheel and axle.

The wheel and axle consists of a rod attached to a wheel. A wheel and axle
makes it easier to move or turn things.

We will read the corresponding page in the textbook aloud as a class about
wheel and axles.

I will show more examples of wheels and axles within picture books.

Expansion- After our exploration we will come back together as a class and each
group will share their examples.

Students will be asked about the items they chose, and will be given the
responsibility of determining if it meets the criteria of a wheel and axle.l

I will guide discussion with a series of questions.

Is there a rod with a wheel attached?

Can it be easily moved by rolling?

Summary

We will review the items we have found that matched the criteria of wheels and
axles.

A review of the wheel and axle definition and importance will also be done.

Evaluation- Students will be given a worksheet to work on individually to assess the

knowledge they obtained during the lesson.

Materials

Henrico county science textbook

Picture books about simple machines

A brick

4 spools

2 straws

Recording worksheet

Worksheet for evaluation

Evaluation Part A

The effectiveness of the lesson and student knowledge will be determined by the
percentage of correct answers on a worksheet given to them to work on individually after
the lesson is complete.