Early Childhood - Connecticut State Department of Education

Science Chapter 7
Project/Thematic Approach
Physical Sciences: Simple Machines
Ask questions about and comment on observations and experimentations.
Collect, describe and record information.
Use language that shows understanding of scientific principles to explain why things happen.
Engage in a scientific experiment with a peer or with a small group.
Performance
Indicators
Concepts/Content Levers help us lift, ramps help us move, and wheels turn and make moving easier.
Experiences Children will discuss at group time problems in the block area moving items from one end of the center to another.
Children will observe and discuss comparisons with the ways construction crews solve problems.
Children will observe and discuss the possible uses for different materials presented at meeting time and in the
investigation area.
Children will discuss their solutions, listen to others and evaluate their ideas.
Context, Environment Investigation center, block center.
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Teacher Strategies Facilitate with Questions
How is a dump truck like a ramp?
How do gears make things work?
What is a lever?
How can we lift, move this box?
Scaffold and Challenge
Using these wheels, pulleys and a rope, how can you create something to carry this container across the block area?
What type of machine can you create with these gears? What will it do?
How fast can you make this car move down the ramp without pushing it? What did you do differently to the ramp?
Scaffold and challenge children to think further.
Which ramp worked better?
Co-Construct with Experiments
Can you make a vehicle/wagon using a box?
Take apart this typewriter or can opener. What pieces do you recognize? How do you think it works?
How can we get these nails out of this piece of wood?
Wheels, pulleys, ropes, hooks, flat pieces of wood for levers and ramps, dump trucks, jars, screws, jars and screw
tops, paper towel rolls, casters, Legos, gear toys, water wheels, nails, hammers.
Materials/Changes
to Environment