CSIRO Education ACT

Australian Curriculum Alignment and Teacher Notes Simple Machines Years 5 - 8

Background Simple Machines examines forces and machines humans use to make their work easier. This program involves students building and using simple machines to help them reduce the effects of forces such as friction and gravity. Information at stations link the machine with its historical use and ways the technology is used today. Some may be surprised by how simple some machines really are. The program will allow students to quantify energy expended using LEGO NXTs. Forces affect the way everything in the world moves. There are four fundamental forces in nature, strong nuclear force, weak nuclear force, electromagnetic force and gravity. For the purpose of this workshop we define friction as a separate force (although technically, it is an electromagnetic force). Friction can be very useful, without it we wouldnt be able to walk or pick things up, but sometimes it can make our lives very difficult. Many simple machines were created to overcome friction, the wheel is one example. Gravity, one of the fundamental forces is another force that allows us to do the things we do. On the macro scale, gravity makes the Earth orbit the sun, and on a much smaller scale it is what keeps our feet firmly on the ground. However, gravity can make moving things around very difficult. Some animals even use simple machines to overcome gravity. A lever is an example of a simple machine used to overcome gravity. Simple machines are divided into four basic groups: levers; inclined planes; wheels, axles and gears; and pulleys. Screws are sometimes included as a simple machine group on their own; however they are simply an inclined plane wrapped around a cylinder. Simple machines are still used today. Often several simple machines are used in conjunction with other simple machines to from a complex machine. An example of a complex machine is a bicycle which uses gears, levers and wheels. Australian Curriculum alignment CSIROs Simple Machines program addresses the areas of Physical Sciences, Science as a Human Endeavour, Science Inquiry skills, Sustainability, Literacy, Numeracy, Critical and Creative Thinking, Personal and Social Capability and Ethical Behaviour within the Australian Curriculum.

CSIRO Education ACT - : EducationACT@csiro.au or Tel: 02 6246 5296

Alignment to Australian Curriculum

Year 5 Science as a Human Endeavour Nature and development of science (ACSHE081) (ACSHE082) Use and influence of science (ACSHE083) (ACSHE217) Science Inquiry Skills Questioning and predicting (ACSIS231) Planning and conducting (ACSIS088) Processing and analysing data and information (ACSIS218) Evaluating (ACSIS091)

Year 6 Science Understanding Physical sciences (ACSSU219)

Science as a Human Endeavour Nature and development of science (ACSHE098) (ACSHE099) Use and influence of science (ACSHE100) (ACSHE220)

Science Inquiry Skills Questioning and predicting (ACSIS232) Planning and conducting (ACSIS105) Processing and analysing data and information (ACSIS221) Evaluating (ACSIS108) Communicating (ACSIS010)

Year 7 Science Understanding Physical sciences (ACSSU117) (ACSSU118)

Science as a Human Endeavour Use and influence of science (ACSHE120) (ACSHE121) (ACSHE224)

Science Inquiry Skills Questioning and predicting (ACSIS124) Evaluating (ACSIS132) Communicating (ACSIS133)

Year 8 Science Understanding Physical sciences (ACSSU155)

Science as a Human Endeavour Use and influence of science (ACSHE135) (ACSHE136) (ACSHE227)

Science Inquiry Skills Questioning and predicting (ACSIS139) Evaluating (ACSIS234) Communicating (ACSIS148)

CSIRO Education ACT - : EducationACT@csiro.au or Tel: 02 6246 5296

Resources CSIRO websites: CSIRO website www.csiro.au CSIROs Science by Email http://www.csiro.au/services/Science-By-Email-Main Ocean Tracks http://www.oceantracks.csiro.au/ Science Image http://www.scienceimage.csiro.au/ Other resources: PBS simple machines http://www.pbs.org/teachers/classroom/6-8/sciencetech/resources/?resource_topic=98&resource_type=&resource_site= MI Kids Simple machines http://www.mikids.com/Smachines.htm

CSIRO Education ACT - : EducationACT@csiro.au or Tel: 02 6246 5296