Helping Kids with Simple Machines

Recently a couple of kids from 808 had a project for school where they had to build a simple machine out of supplies they had on hand (i.e. no tools necessary). They had been studying simple machines for a while in class, and they now had to put their knowledge to the test.

Using tape, scissors, cardboard, paper, markers and a lot of creativity, we were able to create two really cool simple machines. Unfortunately, we were only able to snap a picture of one of them.

The first one was built by Sirak, and isn't pictured. Sirak used a roll of scotch tape, two small pencils, tape, manilla folders and scissors to create a wheelbarrow, which contains two simple machines: the wheel-axle and the lever.

Sirak, with some help, was able to get the wheel to actually roll, and then used scraps of paper colored gray to simulate rocks.

Abdullah was originally going to make a see-saw, but decided that it wasn't challenging enough to create. Instead, he decided to use a wedge and make an axe. He also put in a little extra effort and turned his scrap paper into a piece of wood for the axe to sink into. Abdullah created this cool tool using manilla folders, paper, scissors and tape.

Above: Abdullah used his simple machine (a wedge) and turned it into an axe, complete with a piece of wood to chop!

Each kid did a great job on his machine; now we just have to hope they both got A's!