EDUC 2220- Educational Technology

Infant-Pre-K Curriculum Plan: Technology-Based Lesson/Activity

Your Name: Molly Van Gilder

Activity Title: Simple Machine Investigation

Number of children participating at one time : 14 Ages: 4-5

Activities written for previous classes cannot be re-used and must be the original work of the
student.
Ohio Early
Learning &
Developme
nt
Standards:
List at least 1
standard that
is addressed
by this
activity. Write
out each
component
completely
and exactly,
as published
in ELDS.

Domain: Cognition and General Knowledge

Strand: Scientific Inquiry and Investigation
Topic: Inquiry
Standard Statement: Use simple tools to extend investigation.

Lesson
Summary:

Children will be exploring Simple Machines through a variety of ways through

technology and hands on investigations. The purpose of this investigation is for
children to become more familiar with STEM concepts and using tools to extend
the investigation.

Estimated
Duration:

I will be participating in this activity with children for 20 minutes every day for 5
days. This is enough time for them to learn the concepts without getting burned
out by too much information.

Preparation
of
materials
and
environmen
t

What preparation is needed?

Familiarizing myself more with simple machines before introducing them to the
children. Looking for websites to use in the investigation and setting up accounts
as needed. I will need to make a Google Slide with pictures of everyday simple
machines.
What materials will be used?
The smart board, everyday items for the children to explore that use simple
machines, and books for children to look at. Tools like hammers and screwdrivers
will be needed to safely take apart items to look inside the item for simple
machines. I will need to gather toy cars, watches, clocks, a can-opener, blocks,
make a pulley with another teacher. I will need a poster board, a laminator and
Velcro.
How will the learning environment be set up? The investigation will take place

mostly during group time. The smart board will be up front and I will be next to it.
Children will be encouraged to come up and interact with it. On day two and day
four when more space is required, the children will be in the science area of the
classroom. Children will come to table at four at a time to work with poster and
examine items. This will enable every child to see what is happening and also have
a chance to explore the items. There will be duplicates of items so every group of
children has the same experience. A teacher will be with the children at all times
when they are exploring items.
Instructional Procedures:
Day 1. I will be introducing children to the concept of Simple Machines. I will start off by showing
them pictures that are easy enough to see at group time. I will do this by using Google Slides to
make a slideshow of different simple machines and everyday items that they are attached to.
This will then be put on the smartboard for the children to see. To make it applicable to them, I
will use pictures of items that see often or know something about. I will show pictures and read
to them some parts of the book Simple Machine for Kids by Kelly Doudna. After introducing
children to the book, I will leave it out the book area for children to explore throughout the week.
Day 2- I will have a poster put together and have pictures of the simple machines and will have
children match everyday day items that includes that particular simple machine. This will help
make the concept of simple machines more applicable to children and understand how they
make life easier. I will help them understand this through scaffolding them into a higher level of
thinking by asking questions and prompting the m.
Day 3 I will be using a Quizlet flash card presentation I made and use it at group time. Children
will be seated at the carpet and the smart board will show the quizlet. This will be used so that
children can have yet another opportunity to be familiar with simple machines and what they do.
It is going to be used more for understanding and defining what roles the Simple Machines play.
Literacy will be implanted by reading the definitions on the screen to the children.
Day 4- Children will begin to meet the standard of using tools to extend investigation. They will
be taking apart the back of a clock to explore what is inside it. They will hammer wood with
screws in our woodworking area. I will show them how to use a wedge to keep the door open. I
will then have the children attempt to do so while I supervise them. They will be using blocks to
make an inclined plan and race cars down them seeing which ones make the car faster or slower.
For snack we are going to be have soup so children can explore how a non-electric can opener
works (it is a wheel and axle). We will also make a pulley so that the children can raise up bucket
to the children on a high part of the playground. They will also be encouraged to use see-saw to
understand how a lever works.
Day 5- Children will be using playing a vocabulary flash card game on line to reinforce
vocabulary introduced throughout the week. They will be using the smart-board during group
time. I put it to together using quizlet.com. I have pictures on the flashcards to aid the child.
There are six questions like on Kahoot for each of the simple machines. After each flashcard is
used, we will discuss the definition further.

Extension

Children can go on https://www.grainger.com/category/hand-tools/ecatalog/N-bia and look at all

the different kinds of tools available and can think about what they would that tool for. I could
bring this website up on the smartboard and we can make a chart of what we would use some of
the tools to extend investigation.

Differentiated Instructional Support: Describe how instruction can be differentiated

(changed or altered) to meet the needs of gifted or accelerated students:
These students can go on http://www.learninggamesforkids.com/simple-machines-games.html.
There are several games that would extend their knowledge. They can use their iPad for using
this sight while other children are participating in the activity.
Discuss additional activities you could do to meet the needs of students who might be struggling
with the material:
I will sit down with the child or children as a small group during free play and we will work on the
poster together while discussing the pictures. I will ask their children where they might have
seen the item on the picture. I will clarify information for them by answering their questions on a
child-friendly level.

Vocabulary: Simple Machines, Wheel and Axle, Inclined Plan, Wedge, Pulley, Screw, and lever.

For teachers

I will need to set up an account with Kahoot.com. I will do this by

following the instructions. I will make 6 questions and look for pictures
using Google Images. I will need a poster board and images from Google
for the activity on the second day.

For students

Children will need iPads, a smartboard, and materials to examine like

clocks, see-saw, and bicycle wheels, a smart board, screws, wood, a
wedge, a can opener, clocks, watches, blocks.