First Grade - Hands-On Experience with Simple Machines

The children experimented with foam insulation pipe cut in half.  The result was a marble run - hill machine- that could be changed in many ways.  They could bend it up and down, and from side to side.  They could even make the marbles do a loop-the-loop and seemingly defy the laws of gravity!

The nails and hammers provided experience with two different kinds of simple machines:  The nail is a wedge machine and the claw of the hammer acts as a lever.

First Graders experimenting with levers and fulcrums on a "full body" scale.  We chose to turn the studio into a hands- on experiential environment for the first graders who were learning about simple machines.

Fifth Grade Amusement Park Design Team Challenge

After breaking up into small groups, the Walgrove fifth graders learned they were going to be theme park designers. The challenge before them was to design an amusement park ride based on the digestive system. The designs had to be tasteful in order to attract a variety of customers.

The first step was brainstorming.

Discussions and sketching out ideas ensued.

 

Next came putting their ideas on paper.

 

Using research and reference tools.

Video of groups talking out their initial ideas: