The Importance of Simple Machines- in recognition of National Engineering Week Feb. 16-22, 2020 Vol.
Our Posterity = Our Children
Enhancing our children's S.T.E.A.M education is imperative to their success and will help them become innovators of the future.
S.T.E.A.M stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math.
Hands-on activities helps us to cognitively and visually see how things work. By creating things with our hands, we can understand and appreciate the importance of its existence. We can also become better at:
Brainstorming
Creativity
Critical Thinking
Independent Thinking
Problem solving
Teamwork
Our favorite week of the year has arrived! National Engineering week was founded in 1951 by the National Society of Professional Engineers. Each year, this week is acknowledged by thousands of schools, businesses, and communities. The aim of this project is to help children and adults understand the importance of high-level math, science and technology literacy and to motivate youths to seek out careers in engineering and technology.
What is an Engineer and what do they do?
Engineers apply different Math and Science principles to either develop something new or improve something that already exists! Engineers use the help of simple machines to help build their new creations.
What are Simple Machines?
One way that way that we can get children excited about engineering is to teach them about simple machines. Simple machines help to make our workload easier. By adding mechanical advantage to a problem, simple machines can add to or change the direction of force to make a job easier!
Here are six types of simple machines:
Let's Talk About Levers
Levers can help lift heavy objects with little or no effort. By helping children understand this simple, basic function, they can get a better idea about how a machine works!
Levers involve moving different types of loads around a pivot (fulcrum) using force. They help lift heavy objects with little or no effort. Here are some levers that can be used around our homes:
Pliers
Scissors
See-Saw
Wheelbarrow
Check out the videos below to help your children better understand how levers work!
For more information on levers, check out the Inventors of Tomorrow website!
Science
Technology
Engineering Activities
Art
Math
Let's experiment with Levers!
Let's show our children the power and functionality of a lever by using different length foam boards to lift different weights! For this activity you will need:
foam board
Binder clip (fulcrum)
paper cups
pennies (or other type of weight)
For more information on this activity visit the DiscoverE.org website.
We can also teach our younger children about levers by having them build a catapult! In this activity you will need:
Plastic spoons
Rubber bands
Tape
Something to launch (we used foam blocks)
Cylindrical blocks
Go to Play Teach Repeat for more information.
#STEAM is our Approach
#LEARNING is our Goal We are Bright & Smart
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