Class Size: 20 to 30 students

Time:         30 to 45 minutes

Objective: Virginia SOL 3.2
                 - Students will investigate and understand simple machines
                   and their uses.  Key concepts include: lever, screw, pulley,
                   wheel and axle, inclined plane, and wedge.
                 -how simple machines function
                 -examples of simple machines found in school, home and
                  work environment.

Materials: 1. Print out a scavenger hunt page and photocopy one page
                     for each group.
                 2. Print out simple machine cards, pages 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
                 3. Laminate cards and tape them around the room.
                 4. (Optional) Computer, multimedia projector

Procedures: 1. Show the scavenger hunt page to students and explain
                       that the goal of the activity is to find examples of simple
                       machines and fill the scavenger hunt sheet.
                   2. Students must find 2 examples of levers, 2 wheel and
                       axles, 1 pulley, 1 wedge, 1 screw, and 1 inclined plane.
                       In addition, find two examples of objects that are not
                       simple machines and attach them to the back of the sheet.
                   3. Separate students into groups of 4 or 5.  Explain that
                       one person at a time leaves the group to find an item
                       for the list.
                   4. Give students 15 minutes to search for items.  Circulate
                       and help students who are having difficulty.
                   5. When all groups are finished, have each group stand and
                       share the simple machines they found.  (Optional) - show
                       the same images from the simple machines main page,
                       using the answer buttons to illustrate how each one is a
                       simple machine.