Compound Machine Project

The students are very excited about building compound machines.  Some of them chose to work on their designs instead of playing at lunch.  In the gym, Matthew noticed a fixed pulley attached to the climbing apparatus.  Then others noticed other simple machines in the gym.  I'm kinda proud of them.    The project outline is in your child's Science duo tang.  Please read this over with your child and sign.  Below is a copy.

The students have been learning about how simple machines (lever, wheel and axle, pulley, inclined plane, screw, and wedge) are used to produce forces (push, pull, and lift) to overcome forces such as gravity, load, and friction. Now the students will be making compound machines. The students may work individually or in pairs. More effort will be expected from pairs. 

Requirements for the Compound Machine Project: 

• The machine will be made at home. It should incorporate 2 or more of the simple machines listed above.
• It should be made by the student(s). Adult help is required if power tools are used.
• It should be made using materials that can (mostly?) be found around a home,(examples: cardboard, thread spools, string, wood scraps, parts of old toys) 

Due Dates: 

Part 1: Thursday January 25th: parent signature

Part 2: Thursday February 1st: Rough Draft which includes: title of compound machine, rough labeled diagram of machine, a short paragraph explaining what the machine is supposed to do, a list of materials and equipment, reference sheet completed (provided by Ms. R) 

Part 3: Tuesday February 13th: Machine is built and brought to school. 

Part 4: Tuesday February 13th to Thursday February 15th: Students will present their projects to the class and will be expected to answer questions about them. 

I have read over the assignment with my child. I understand further explanation will be given to the students and that we can ask Ms. Reichert any questions that come up throughout the project.!

Parent’s Signature: __________________________

Student(s) Names: ___________________________________________

Evaluation Criteria

Part 1: Parent Signature shown to Ms. R by Thursday January 25th 

Part 2: Rough Draft: handed in by Thursday February 1st and includes - 

•  the title of the compound machine

• a labeled diagram
• a list of equipment and materials needed
• a paragraph explaining what the compound machine is supposed to do. It should include scientific words from the Science unit (names of simple machines in project, forces used and overcome, mechanical advantage, etc.) 
• references (see handout provided by Ms. Reichert)
  The Rough Draft can be in pencil, should be double spaced, and must be legible.

Part 3: Compound Machine: brought to school Tuesday February 13th 

• is complete and organized
• includes 2 or more simple machines (lever, wheel and axle, pulley, inclined plane, screw, and wedge)

Part 4: Oral Presentation: ready for Tuesday February 13th and includes - 

•   a clear explanation of how the machine was made (where the ideas came from, steps in           construction, problems that were encountered and solutions, parents’ roles, etc.) 
• list and point out simple machines in the compound machine
• a clear explanation and demonstration of how it works 
• a clear explanation and demonstration of how it works

The presenter - 

•  speaks in a loud clear voice

•  makes eye contact with the audience 

• has appropriate posture 

•  is able to answer questions about the project