Metal Investigation

SIMPLE MACHINES INVESTIGATION

INTRODUCTION TO SETTING

An Investigation of Simple Machines by The Voyager students and teachers,
in the Spring of 2017 at the Bombeck Family Learning Center.

The Bombeck Family Learning Center is the University of Dayton’s Early Childhood (Birth – Age 5) Demonstration School.

The Voyager classroom is a mixed age (3 to 5 years) group of 24 students with 3 teachers. The Center is a Child Care and Education site open to the University employees and the general public.

The Bombeck Center follows the ACCESS Curriculum, a STEM focused curriculum that promotes Intentional, Integrated and Inquiry-based learning experiences throughout the day in teacher directed activities in small and large groups.

RATIONAL FOR INVESTIGATION

Every day we use simple machines without even thinking about it. Children use simple machines when using scissors to cut paper, turn the cap on a container, and playing with cars. They experience them in their everyday life. The children in the Voyager room began creating simple machines with blocks and connectors during their play. Through this project the children will learn how simple machines help make work easier. When a simple machine is used to complete a task less effort is used. They will have the opportunity to explore the concepts of force, objects in motion, and friction on objects.

STANDARDS ADDRESSED

SCIENCE
-Use simple tools to extend investigation

-Record observations using words, pictures, charts, graphs

-With modeling and support, explore the position and motion of objects

-Explore objects, materials and events in the environment

-Describes, compares, sorts, classifies, and orders

MATH
-Describe and compare objects using measureable attributes

-Name three-dimensional objects using informal, descriptive vocabulary

LANGUAGE & LITERACY
-Demonstrate understanding of increasingly complex concepts and longer sentences

-Use language to share observations, ideas and experiences; problem solve, reason, predict and seek new information

-Understands new words

APPROACHES TOWARD LEARNING
-Uses imagination and creativity in interactions with materials and objects

-Uses prior knowledge and information to: assess, inform, and plan for future actions

SOCIAL EMOTIONAL
-Demonstrate cooperative behaviors and fairness in social interactions

HEALTH & MOTOR DEVELOPMENT
-Uses tools independently with coordination

-Demonstrate locomotor skills with control and coordination in active play

-Use classroom and household tools independently with eye-hand coordination to carry out activities

COGNITIVE
-Solve problems by planning and carrying out a sequence of actions
-Seek more than one solution to a question, problem or task