Compound Machine Project
The students received project outlines today. Please read these over with your child and sign the orange outline by Thursday. More explanation will be given in class as well as some time to work on a rough draft. I am happy to answer any questions and deal with any concerns. Thank you.
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, turn, 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 3 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 February 6th: parent signature
Part 2: Thursday February 13th: Rough Draft which includes: your name(s), 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
Part 3: Tuesday February 25th: Machine is built and brought to school.
Good Copy of the above: The paragraph should also explain how well the machine works or why it does not. The information must be mounted on a small stand-up poster board (approximately 11”x17”)
Part 4: Tuesday February 25th to Thursday February 27th: 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 completion of the project.
Parent’s Signature: __________________________
Student(s) Names: ___________________________________________
Evaluation Criteria
Part 1: Parent Signature shown to Ms. R by Thursday February 6th /2
Part 2: Rough Draft: handed in by Thursday February 13th and includes - /10
- the title of the compound machine and name(s) of student(s)
- 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.)
The Rough Draft can be in pencil, should be double spaced, and must be legible.
Part 3: Good Copy: brought to school Tuesday February 25th and includes -
- a large bold title of the compound machine and your name(s)
- a labelled diagram
- a list of equipment and materials used
- 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.) The paragraph should also explain how well the machine works or why it does not.
- The written portion can be typed or printed by hand. It must be tidy and edited. It should be mounted on a small stand-up poster board. (approximately 11” x17”)
- Optional: photos and facts about real machines using the same simple machines as in the project, photos of the project in progress etc.
Compound Machine: brought to school Tuesday February 25th /8
- is complete and organized
- includes 3 or more simple machines (lever, wheel and axle, pulley, inclined plane, screw, and wedge)
Part 4: Oral Presentation: ready for Tuesday February 25th and includes - /10
- 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
The presenter(s) -
• speaks in a loud clear voice
- makes eye contact with the audience
- has appropriate posture
- is able to answer questions about the project
