by Rhonda Sparks
rsparks@esu3.org

Grade Level: 4-8

Content Area: Science

• Students will be able to identify each simple machine.
• Students will demonstrate their knowledge of simple machines by drawing and creating a compound machine.
• Students will understand the following terms: kinetic energy, mass, acceleration, force and friction.
• Students will demonstrate problem solving skills during the compound machine planning and construction.
• Students will learn information about Rube Goldberg.
• Students will learn and use technology skills relating to handheld computers and different software (Memo Pad, Palm Reader, PiCoMap, Sketchy and Quizzler) used on the handhelds.

Procedures

This lesson will be taught after students have worked with a handheld computer and the different software (Memo Pad, Palm Reader, PiCoMap, Sketchy and Quizzler) incorporated in the lesson.

One student will be the Roving Reporter each day. The Roving Reporter will take digital photos and video (if appropriate). The reporter will also write an article telling about the day and the learning that took place that day.

1. Introduce the lesson by showing Rube Goldberg Cartoons. Have a class discussion on how Rube Goldberg takes a simple task (pouring a glass of water, hitting a golf ball, breaking an egg) and makes it complicated by using a sequence of simple machines. See if students can name a simple machine and explain how it works. Discussion will lead the class onto the internet.
2. Divide the class into groups of four using the software “Name Pick” on the handheld. Using computers, the 1’s and 2’s in each group will research information on Rube Goldberg using the following sites (bookmark these sites on computers).
   http://www.rube-goldberg.com/html/today.htm
   http://www.rube-goldberg.com/html/bio.htm
   http://www.rube-goldberg.com/html/gallery.htm
   http://www.geocities.com/MadisonAvenue/Newsstand/7000/
3. Students will use “Memo Pad” on their handheld computers to write ten interesting facts on Rube Goldberg. They will beam their ten facts to the rest of their group members.
4. The 3’s and 4’s in each group will read the ebook “Simple Machines”. Once they finish reading and taking notes, on the Simple Machine ebook, they will use the handheld software “sketchy” to draw examples for the 6 simple machines (lever, incline plane, wheel and axle, screw, wedge, pulley). Students will share their sketches with the entire class.
5. The group that conducted research on Rube Goldberg will share their results with the entire group.

Students will meet in their groups to start creating and brainstorming ideas for their complex machine. Students will make drawings for each step to their complex machine using their handheld computers and the software--”Sketchy”.

Each machine must:

• pour a glass of water OR pop a balloon.
• be constructed in the Rube Goldberg style.
• include 20 simple machines.
• include the 6 simple a machines.
• follow a unified theme (Star Wars, Basketball, Golf, Harry Potter, etc...)
• stay in the 4’ by 4’ board area.
• complete the task.

Once your complex machine starts, it runs all the way through to completion with no human intervention and completes the required task--pouring a glass of water or popping a balloon.

1. Students will use the handheld software "PiCoMap" to diagram and label their step by step complex machine. The completed PiCoMap should diagram and label all simple machines used in the complex machine.
2. Each group must have their sketchy animation and PiCoMap approved by the teacher before they start constructing their complex machine to pour a glass or water OR pop a balloon. Students should ask themselves:
   Did I do my best? Did I include everything that was required? Did I have members in my group review the work? Did I have the teacher look over my work?
3. Start construction. The school will provide the 4’ by 4’ baseboard. Students will provide all other materials. During construction digital pictures and video will be taken for an imovie project. Once the machines are finished, students will “show off” their work at a parents night.

Evaluation

Students will be evaluated on how well they complete the following tasks:

• Students show strong team spirit. They are self-motivated, actively involved and cooperating with each other in setting up and operating the machine.
• How complete is your simple machine list?
• How well did you follow directions and work together as a team?
• Did you use all 6 simple machines?
• Did you use at least 20 simple machines in your complex machine?
• Did you construct your invention in the Rube Goldberg style?
• Did you accurately label all simple machines in your invention?
• Did you follow a unified them to your complex machine?
• Did your machine stay in the 4’ by 4’ area?
• Does the machine work?

Once your complex machine starts, it runs all the way through to completion with no human intervention and completes the required task--pouring a glass of water or popping a balloon.

Students will either “construct” or “take” a quiz on their handhelds over the lesson. The quiz will be created in --”Quizzler”.