Simple Machines on Big Universe
Posted on August 25, 2010 by Other in Reading Lists, Uncategorized.
Tags: informational text, machines, Mary Fetzner, reader's theater, simple machines, text features, Three Pigs and the Scientific Wolf
Bellwether publishers will quickly become a favorite of 2nd and 3rd graders studying simple machines. These Level 4 Blastoff Readers contain full color images, labeled diagrams, captions, bold vocabulary words, fun facts, a glossary, and websites to learn more information. These books are perfect for reinforcing the use of text features and research skills. Titles offered on Big Universe include:
Wheels and Axles , Wedges, Ramps, Pulleys, Levers, and Screws.
One of my favorite stories involving simple machines is The 3 Pigs and the Scientific Wolf by Mary Fetzner. In the past, I’ve rewritten the book as a reader’s theater script and had the students create masks and costumes to act it out. This story is perfect for demonstrating the use of simple machines with an added bonus of humor.
Here are a couple of lessons using this book (Lessons can be modified for younger students):
Machines and Work Across the Ages (Grades 6-8)
Solving Problems Using Simple Machines (Grade 5)
