This document provides instructions for a webquest on simple machines. Students are tasked with learning about six simple machines and inventing their own machine or improving an existing one. They must follow steps to research simple machines, answer questions, watch inventor videos, design a machine with labeled parts and instructions, and submit their work by a deadline. The project can be completed individually or with a partner, and will be evaluated based on organization, completeness, independence, and the originality and simplicity of the designed machine.

1. MACHINES WEBQUEST

2. •INTRODUCTION
•TASK
•PROCESS
•RESOURCES
•EVALUATION

3. Listen to this song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNUgbdsWSm4

4. You have a problem. The company you founded three years
ago, has not produced a new product since opening its doors
and by now everyone has your products, so you are not
selling anything. You need to create a great new product,
something that will have people lining up in the shops. You
need a product that will make cash registers ring and you
need to keep it simple... But, there's just one small problem
- you know absolutely nothing about simple machines. So,
before you design your product, you need to learn something
about simple machines. Remember a machine has to be
useful, it can be completely original or it can improve
another machine.
LET’S BECOME GREAT INVENTORS

5. • You can do this work on your own or in pairs.
REMEMBER: before deciding to do it in pairs you must talk to your parents to
see if it’s possible or not.
• The work can be done in a Power Point, Word Document,
poster or book.
SUGGESTION : I will do it in a paper or poster, because you have to draw your
machine.
• You must read everything carefully and do the work
without your parents’ help.
• Whatever you need…ASK ME!!! By e-mail, on the blog, in
class…

6. To fulfill your achievement you must follow
these steps:
1. Get to know what is a machine.
2. Learn about simple machines.
3. Observe different machines that we
use every day.
4. Get to know other inventors and their
inventions.
5. Design your own machine and its
instructions.

7. Answer to the following questions by looking for
information in the resources slides:
1. What do we use machines for?
2. Which are the 6 types of simple machines?
3. Find 3 examples for each kind of machine in the objects
that you use every day.
4. What is the difference between a simple and a complex
machine?
AFTER ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS:
http://www.edheads.org/activities/simple-machines/frame_loader.htm

8. Choose at least 2 of the following machines and answer the
questions(you must answer the questions for each machine):
HOW DO THESE
MACHINES WORK?
MACHINES
Scissors Bicycle
Car Corkscrew
Seesaw Knife
Screwdriver Skate
Car Fan
1. Is it a simple or a complex
machine? If it’s a complex
machine, which are the
simple machines that form
it?
2. How does it work?
3. What do you use it for?
4. How often do you use it?

9. Watch these videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xz
JNnr6-Wn0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1
LCUtPx73o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1l
KwZTtzIY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJ
pJL2YzCOc
WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?
WHAT DID THEY INVENT?

10. After watching the videos on the previous slide answer to
these questions:
1. Who invented the printing press? Why did he invent it?
2. How would our life be if the printing press hadn’t been
invented?
3. What did Wright Brothers invent? When did they
invent it?
4. Did people think Marconi’s invention will work?
5. What did Thomas Edison invent?
6. Was it easy for these people get to their inventions?
Did they give up when things didn’t work? What can you
learn from their attitude?
WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?
WHAT DID THEY INVENT?

11. Now it’s your turn to invent your own machine or improve
one. To do it you must follow these steps:
1. What do you need a machine for? What do you want to
improve?
2. Draw a plan of the machine. Write the name of each
part.
3. Write the instructions. You must include:
• The name of the machine.
• The name of each part. The simple machines that
form your machine.
• The material each part is made of.
• How to use the machine.
• Safety instructions.

12. http://teacher.scholastic.com/dirtrep/simple/invest.htm
http://www.mikids.com/Smachines.htm
http://www.beaconlearningcenter.com/WebLessons/Simple
Machines/machines004.htm
http://www.learninggamesforkids.com/simple-machines-
games/label-it.html
For those who want some extra information:
http://sunshine.chpc.utah.edu/Labs/Machines/index.html

13. • The last day to give in the work:
MONDAY 1ST OF JUNE 2015
• I will evaluate:
 Being organized and clean.
 Answering to all the questions.
MAKE SURE YOU ANSWER TO EVERYTHING.
 Doing the work without your parent’s help, you must
ask me if you don’t understand something.
 Designing an original, but simple, machine.
 If you do a book or poster:
BE CLEAN AND CAREFUL WITH YOUR
HANDWRITING