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Session 05: Simple Machines

Overview

Grade: Kindergarten | Duration: 25 minutes | Session: 5 of 17

Students discover how ramps (inclined planes) make work easier, exploring how things roll and slide.

Session 05: Simple Machines

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, students will:

  • Understand that ramps help move things

  • Predict and test which objects roll

  • Compare steep vs. gentle ramps

  • See how simple machines help people

Materials Needed

  • 📦 Ramp boards (cardboard, books, or boards)

  • 🎾 Rolling objects (balls, toy cars, cylinders)

  • 📦 Non-rolling objects (blocks, crayons, toy animals)

  • 📏 Masking tape (for starting lines)

  • 🖍️ Wonder Journals and crayons

Catholic Integration

Saint Connection

St. Isidore the Farmer — He used simple tools and machines to help grow food for others!

Scripture

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord." — Colossians 3:23

Opening Prayer

Dear God, thank you for giving people ideas to make work easier. Help us use our minds to solve problems and help others. Amen.

Lesson Procedure

Opening Circle (4 minutes)

  1. Wonder Question — "How do we get heavy things to move?"
  2. Show Ramp — "This is called a RAMP or an inclined plane"
  3. Real-World Examples — Wheelchair ramps, slides, driveways
  4. Prediction — Hold up a ball: "What will happen if I put this on the ramp?"

Main Activity: Ramp Exploration (15 minutes)

Part 1: Roll or Not? (5 minutes)

  • Set up ramps around the room

  • Students predict: Will it roll? 🎾 or stay? 📦

  • Test various objects

  • Sort into "Rollers" and "Stayers"

Part 2: Steep vs. Gentle (7 minutes)

  • Make ramps at different heights

  • Challenge Questions:

  • Which ramp makes things go faster?
  • Which ramp makes things go farther?

  • Which ramp would be easier to push a heavy box up?

  • Students test and observe

Part 3: Race Time! (3 minutes)

  • Partner races: Which object rolls fastest?

  • Celebrate discoveries!

Wonder Journal (3 minutes)

  1. Draw a ramp with something rolling
  2. Draw what happened!

Closing Circle (3 minutes)

  1. Discovery Share — "What did you learn about ramps?"
  2. Helping Others — "How do ramps help people?" (wheelchairs, strollers, carts)
  3. Closing Prayer — "Thank you, God, for simple machines that help us. Help us always think of ways to help others. Amen."

Assessment

Observation Checklist:

  • Made predictions before testing

  • Identified which objects roll

  • Noticed differences between steep/gentle ramps

  • Connected ramps to helping people

Differentiation

For Students Who Need Support

  • Focus on two clear comparisons (ball vs. block)

  • Work one-on-one during exploration

  • Use hand-over-hand to place objects

For Advanced Students

  • Measure how far objects travel

  • Create a ramp from classroom materials

  • Predict and test multiple variables

Wonder at Home 🏠

Family Activity: Find ramps in your neighborhood! Look for wheelchair ramps, slides, driveways, parking garage ramps. Make a ramp at home with a book and test what rolls. What goes fastest?

Teacher Notes

  • Simple machines kit available from CSCOE library

  • Heavy books make good ramp supports

  • This connects to future physics concepts (gravity, friction)

Previous: Session 04 — Colors & Light
Next: Session 06 — Thanksgiving Wonder