There Are Six Simple Machines

Dear Parents,

We began our week using two scales to balance and weigh our tangram pieces. Children worked in pairs, adding and subtracting pieces to distribute weight. The next day we weighed small rubber vehicles.  A few children realized excitedly that the scale was a simple machine: a lever!

In the big room we experimented with our big lever using different sized pieces for the fulcrum. We decided to use sandpaper to smooth our big lever to try and avoid splinters. We sanded and sanded so much that we had to sweep the sawdust twice. Someone told us this week that he read in his outer space book that we are made of stardust. Not sawdust!

While half the class played with scarves in gymnastics class, the rest of us used scissors to attempt cutting out shapes: squares, triangles, circles, diamonds, letters, and hearts. One person wanted to cut a heart for every member of her family, including the dog. We asked the children what simple machines were a part of our scissors. They identified a wedge, a lever, and a screw in the middle holding it all together. 

We read In The Home, and learned about how a telephone, a cassette player, the faucet, the toilet, the oven, a vacuum, and a fridge work. We noticed that many of these machines have electrical currents in them. A few friends said they already know how the oven works: there is a clicking sound and then fire. Someone added, “And then It gets hot!”

On Thursday we added the letter H to our ABC wall. We sang two hammer songs and everyone got a turn to use a real hammer and nail. We asked what simple machine is a nail? And what simple machine is a hammer when it pulls out the nail? The class has been identifying simple machines in books and around the classroom. Someone asked: Is a ship a simple machine? 

On Friday, Stepahnie and Ross came to tell us about their family sheep farm in Ireland. We saw a map of where Ireland is and photos of Homer on the farm with sheep. We got to touch real sheep wool. Someone shouted that wool can be used to make carpets and sweaters. The class bleated like sheep when asked what sound sheep make. Everyone made a picture of a sheep using cotton balls. Afterwards, we read Sheep On A Ship. At the end of the day, we herded the sheep to the yard to wait for parents and babysitters. 

Have a wooly weekend,

Therese

Machines Make Work Easier

Dear Parents,

On our return from break we played in the big room. Some children built a spaceship in the block area and wanted to wear their helmets and oxygen tanks. We forgot to ask what planet they were traveling to. Other children played Duck, Duck, Goose. Some played on wheels and in the jungle gym.

We introduced our study of simple machines by asking the children if they thought they could pick up a grownup. Many children wanted to try. After several unsuccessful attempts, we brought in a lever. We used a big long piece of wood and one wooden block which we put under the long piece. Someone immediately shouted, “It’s like a see-saw!” It was exactly like a see-saw. A teacher stood on one end and three or four students on the other. They could pick up a teacher! Machines make work easier! Everyone was excited to have a turn, except one, who politely declined. 

We read Machines, and made a list of Machines We Know: washer and dryer, refrigerator, jackhammer, hammer, ice cream machine, the Brooklyn Bridge, and many more. We looked at pictures of six simple machines and noticed some of them in our classroom. The children knew their water bottles have a screw on the cap, and one person noticed that the handle of our classroom windows uses a screw to open. The next day someone brought in a screw that she found on her stoop.

In our yard this week we discovered more blooming flowers, some tiny early ants, and chirping birds. Some children pretended to be birds, flew around the yard, and sat on branches. 

The kids were eager to go to gym class with Casey. Afterwards they excitedly told us, "There was a bouncy ball in there!" While half the class was in the bigroom, the rest of us read Machines At Work. Afterwards, we played letter bingo. 

We prepared for our trip to Puppetworks by reading Sleeping Beauty, and taking turns retelling parts that we remembered. We talked about walking to the show, hand holding with our grownups, and that the lights would go out when the show began. Someone reminded us that we should be quiet during the show, but that we could laugh and clap.

Afterwards, the children talked about their favorite parts of the show: the dragon, the good fairy, when she woke up, and when they got married. One person said the witch was creepy. Someone reminded us that she wasn’t a witch, but an evil fairy. 

On Friday we had a family share. Rosalie’s brother, Henry, came in and played cello for us. He played two songs. He showed us how he felt when he started learning the cello, it was a super silly face. 

After, we asked the class if they thought there were any simple machines on Henry’s cello. “Screws!” several people shouted. We remembered that the keys on a piano are levers. 

We ate snacks and went into the big room to play. We introduced our three tool boxes. The class was able to name every tool in the toolbox. We took turns in small groups using the tools on the stage. Who knew the stage was in such disrepair? Many children worked together building a new building on the stage. 

In the block area we took turns using our big lever again, to pick up teachers and each other. Everyone stepped on and off slowly so as to not upset the weight distribution.

Have a balanced weekend,

Therese