LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Science — Grade 5

Goal 4: The learner will conduct investigations and use appropriate technologies to build an understanding of forces and motion in technological designs.

Objective 4.07. Determine how people use simple machines to solve problems.

Additional related resources

We’re in the process of aligning our content for students to the Standard Course of Study. As we do, you’ll find it here.

General resources

Aligned lesson plans

Solving problems using simple machines
This lesson uses the familiar story of the three pigs and the big bad wolf to explore how the wolf could have used simple machines to catch the three pigs. By reading, analyzing, and evaluating the wolf's use of simple machines in The 3 Pigs and the Scientific Wolf by Mary Fetzer, the students will design and justify their own machine to help the wolf catch those pigs!
Format: lesson plan (grade 5 English Language Arts, English Language Development, and Science)
By Allison Buckner and Maria Tanner.
Push-Me Pull-Me toys
In Design technology: Children's engineering, page 1.3
In this lesson, students find themselves working as engineers and toy designers for the Push-Me Pull-Me Toy Company. They will design and build a prototype of a simple toy that moves with a push or pull of one finger.
Format: lesson plan (grade 1, 3, and 5 Visual Arts Education and Science)
By Erin Denniston.
Marshmallow catapults
In Design technology: Children's engineering, page 1.4
Students will work in design teams competing for a contract to produce a marshmallow catapult for Target. Catapults will be assessed based on cost, performance, and appearance.
Format: lesson plan (grade 5 Mathematics and Science)
By Erin Denniston.
Eco-packaging
In Design technology: Children's engineering, page 1.5
Environmental issues are often at odds with commerce. In this lesson, students balance the need for secure packaging with environmental and economic concerns. They will work together to create mailing packages for a fragile substance and evaluate their results once the package travels through the postal system.
Format: lesson plan (grade 5 Mathematics and Science)
By Erin Denniston.

Resources on the web

Viking longhouse
In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear where early Viking explorers may have gone after their visit to America. (Learn more)
Format: activity/lesson plan (grade 5 Science and Social Studies)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Tools
The goal of this Science NetLinks lesson is to understand the impact tools (and machines) have on human society both historically and presently. The focus is on how tools make our lives easier. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K, 3, and 7 Science)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Move it! With simple machines
The purpose of this lesson is to know the six simple machines and to understand what they do and how they have changed the lives of humans. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 5 Science)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Leonardo's machines
This lesson will highlight some of Leonardo da Vinci's futuristic inventions, introducing the elements of machines. Through the use of student interactives, this lesson provides an interesting context in which students can begin to develop their ideas about... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 5 Science)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Images of science
The purpose of this Science NetLinks lesson is to understand the diversity of the scientific enterprise. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 5–6 Science)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Does soap float?
In this lesson, from Science NetLinks, students form hypotheses and carry out an investigation in order to answer a central question: Does soap float? They then demonstrate their understanding of the topic through oral or written reports. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 5–6 Science)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Buoyant boats
The purpose of this Science NetLinks lesson is to design and construct a boat that takes into account factors such as buoyancy, the properties of materials, and design constraints. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 5 Science)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Break it down!
In this Science NetLinks lesson, students explore the everyday implications of system failure and are challenged to identify the causes. There are two prerequisite lessons for this lesson: Systems 1: Simple machines and Systems 2: Systems, Up, Up, and Away! (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 5 Science)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science