3rd Grade Science Project coming up, Simple Machines (1 Viewer)

[Mike V]

I love these Science Fair things
We need to "invent" a simple machine using at least one of these: Lever, Pulley or Inclined Plane. The product must be useful and make a job easier. Size does not matter.
Anyone care to contribute any ideas? Or links.

 

[Bob McLaughlin]

How about a lever that can safely pry DVDs from any type of spindle? I'd buy that for a dollar!

 

[Mary M S]

Not a lot of takers here. I would think at least Jack would have a suggestion for how to lever your 3rd grader into a star child. I personally try to block out the Science project days...not that I don't believe in them...but it often becomes the parents 'job'.
Also sometimes when a child has a 'good' idea to follow. The 'rules' do not permit.
One we did in a timecrunch panic, 2 hermit crabs set on an obstacle course to race with predictions and results. It won a first...only because my son grudgingly documented that the 'results' were contrary to what he had predicted for the outcome. I had to do some fast talking on that one...he wanted to manipulate the results till he 'got' his predication. I had trouble explaining to him the the whole point of 'experimentation' was to set up a trial run and document regardless result...then explain where you went wrong and what affected your predicted expectations.
The other was when we were driving along a few weeks out from science fair deadline, with no choice settled. And my son asked. 'Mom, why can birds sit on power lines but people can't touch them?". I said bingo! Thats your 'project' - to find out 'why'. He went to district with that one.
I asked,...he was in a hurry but suggested something using a lever/pulley/or plane to facilitate 'cleaning your room'...might have been on his mind since he has to do his.

 

[Ted Lee]

try this link. there is specificaly a section that deals with....lo and behold....levers, pulleys and inclined planes in a classroom environment!
http://www.ed.uri.edu/SMART96/ELEMSC...s/machine.html

 

[Mike V]

Thanks for the replies. We've narrowed it down to a couple of ideas, still working on it though.
Bob, if I could invent that I would make a million here at the HTF alone! Hmm....
Mary, I can't wait to "block out" these days

 

[Paul Bond]

No specifics here, but you might consider a catapult or trebuchet. Since there is no size restriction, you could set it up in the parking lot and throw maybe a 500 lb rock into the principal's offi.....

Well, maybe that's going a bit too far.

Good luck with the project!!

Paul

 

[Ted Lee]

to touch upon paul's post, check out this NOVA (from pbs) article. these guys tried to build one just like they did in the old days...
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/lostemp...trebworks.html