Iowa Public Television

 
K-12 Connections Event
Gadgets and Gizmos: Simple Machines
Subject Area:
    Science

Science is fun on the ICN! Levers, wedges, pulleys, incline planes, wheels and axles, screws and more are yours to explore when 'Gizmo Glen' is around!

In cooperation with the Bettendorf Family Museum, Glen Boyles helps students discover the principles of simple machines and how they make our work easier every day.

After Glen demonstrates how simple machines work, it is the students' turn! Students, while in the ICN rooms, utilize learned principals to create a new contraption that pushes pulls or rolls.

PLEASE NOTE: Registrants agree to provide the listed materials for each student. Please print this description to maintain a list of these materials for your records.

Students create a 'gizmo' of their own after Glen demonstrates the 6 simple machines. Teachers need to bring the following materials to the ICN room for each student.

YOU MAY SUBSTITUTE OR OMIT ITEMS AT YOUR DISCRETION:

Materials List:
1. 2 uncooked pasta wheels (rotelle)
2. One 2-inch piece of a coffee stirrer that fits through the center hole of the pasta wheel (to make a wheel and axle)
3. One 4oz paper cup
4. One half of a regular plastic drinking straw
5. One pom pom (the 1" fuzzy craft balls)or cotton ball
6. One 8-inch piece of string
7. Two paper clips
8. Two craft sticks (regular Popsicle sticks)
9. One jumbo craft stick (tongue depressor)
10. One roll of masking tape (2-3 students may share tape)

Following the ICN session, registrants receive a complimentary book.

Suggested Prerequisites:

PBS LearningMedia, a dynamic platform offering the best of public media content and produced specifically for PreK-16 teachers. With free access to over 14,000 high-quality resources tied to national standards, teachers can download, save and share exactly what they need for an inspired classroom experience. Sign up is free and easy! Learn more about PBS LearningMedia.

PBS Teachers - PBS Teachers offers free lesson plans, professional development and more for preK-12 educators.


Click for Applicable Standards

Notes:

Classroom Resources:

The following related programs are available on IPTV's broadcast or from the AEAs: (Check the K-12 Classroom Television (www.iptv.org/k12catalog) Web site for broadcast dates and times.)

  • BILL NYE THE SCIENCE GUY (Grade Level: 4-12)
  • DRAGONFLY TV (Grade Level: 2-5)
  • DESIGN SQUAD (Grade Level: 5-12)

Sessions are provided at no cost by Iowa Public Television in collaboration with the Iowa Communications Network to PK-12 students and the adults working with or on behalf of PK-12 students in Iowa. If you are not employed by a school district or an AEA please register at library sites only.

Sign up for the K-12 Connections eNewsletter to receive timely information regarding ICN sessions like this one.

Contact Person:
Abby Brown or Marcia Stone
Educational Telecommunications
(800) 532-1290 or (515) 242-4181 or (515) 242-3100
abby@iptv.org
Offering Dates & Times: Registration Deadlines:
February 28, 2013
 Thursday, 8:45 AM - 9:45 AM
Audience: Grades 3-6
Friday, February 22, 2013
February 28, 2013
 Thursday, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Audience: Grades 3-6
Friday, February 22, 2013
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