Simple Machines in Action: A STEM Carnival
In our transitional kindergarten classroom, we recently completed an exciting and hands-on unit exploring simple machines: wheel and axle, gear, lever, inclined plane, wedge (ramp), screw, and pulley. Throughout the unit, students discovered how simple machines provide a mechanical advantage, helping us do work more easily.
Learning Like Scientists and Engineers
For each type of simple machine, students engaged in both a science experiment and a building challenge. Like real scientists, engineers, and inventors, they encountered problems along the way—and worked together to solve them through trial, observation, and persistence.
Wheel and Axle: Engineering a Water Wheel
Students designed and built a working water wheel at the water table using plastic plates, cups, tape, a dowel, and a pool noodle. After multiple attempts, they discovered that paper materials were not durable enough, as water quickly broke them down. By switching to plastic and using a longer, thinner dowel, they reduced friction and successfully created a spinning wheel.
Lever: Launching with Force
To explore levers, students built their own seesaws to launch pom-poms across a table. They learned about the importance of the fulcrum and how it balances the lever. When their initial designs didn’t send the pom-poms very far, they experimented with different materials, switching from popsicle sticks to a wider plank. They also adjusted the fulcrum position and lever length, discovering how these changes affected both height and distance.
Inclined Plane: Building Marble Runs
Using large blocks, cardboard tubes, and PVC pipes, students constructed long marble runs. Through testing, they observed that steeper inclines increased speed, and extending the run off the table added the force of gravity to accelerate the marble even more. Each adjustment required careful testing to ensure the structure was stable and functional.
Wedge: Scaling Up Motion
Students explored wedges by using a large ramp to roll balls downward. They extended the experiment by adding block ramps at the bottom, creating a “double wedge” system. The balls moved fast enough to travel up the second ramp and back down, demonstrating how energy and motion transfer through connected surfaces.
Screw: Investigating Fasteners and Motion
Students experienced how screws work by taking apart objects such as a broken telephone, keyboard, and alarm clock. They learned that screws fasten materials by carving threads into surfaces.
They also explored more advanced concepts through experimentation. In one activity, students attempted to create a whirlpool in a jar to lift a tangerine, observing partial success. In another, they built a model of an Archimedes’ screw using tubing and PVC pipe. While they were able to move some water upward, the design did not succeed at first. Students thoughtfully reflected on possible improvements, such as using a deeper water source, thinner tubing, or a shorter pipe.
Pulley: Lifting with Ease
Students experimented with a real pulley system attached to the classroom wall, using it to lift heavy objects from the floor to a loft area. This hands-on experience has brought the concept of mechanical advantage to life in a meaningful and memorable way.
From Exploration to Innovation: Planning a Carnival
After completing their investigations, students moved into the next phase of the project: design and innovation. Working in small teams, they focused on one type of simple machine and brainstormed ideas for creating a game or activity. Their goal was to design a classroom carnival that would showcase their learning.
Each team developed a plan, created a blueprint, and listed materials. They then began building, testing, and refining their designs, applying the same problem-solving skills they had practiced throughout the unit.
The Simple Machine Carnival
The project culminated in a classroom carnival, where students proudly shared their creations with other classes and special guests. All the children at Playhouse brought their admission tickets and were excited to play the carnival games! Each game demonstrated a different simple machine in action, combining creativity, engineering, and teamwork.
The event was a tremendous success. Students not only showcased their understanding but also made meaningful connections to the real world. During some recent construction on the street outside of Playhouse, the class went out to observe the action and identified simple machines on the tow trucks and cement mixers—recognizing levers, wheels and axles, pulleys, and inclined planes at work.
STEM Learning in Action
This unit highlighted the power of hands-on, inquiry-based STEM learning. Students explored scientific concepts, designed and built structures, tested ideas, and collaborated with peers. Most importantly, they developed resilience, creativity, and confidence as problem-solvers.