Children explore how simple machines help people solve problems through pushing, pulling, lifting, building, and testing. Through hands-on STEM challenges, children investigate force, motion, and engineering design.
Children investigate everyday tools and machines while designing, building, and testing their own creations. Through exploration and problem solving, children discover how engineers use simple machines to make work easier.
Hands-On Activities
Learning Centers
STEM Challenges
Printable Resources
Children investigate how simple machines help people move, build, and solve problems.
Children explore everyday tools and discover how simple machines help people complete tasks.
Children investigate force, motion, and how designs can help people push, pull, lift, and move objects.
Children design, test, improve, and explain their own engineering creations.
Children explore force, motion, balance, and how simple machines help objects move.
Children compare distance, size, weight, measurement, and results during engineering challenges.
Children develop STEM vocabulary while explaining designs, testing ideas, and sharing discoveries.
Children design inventions and use imagination to solve problems through engineering.
Building Materials
Wheels & Axles
Boxes & Recycled Materials
Ramps & Inclined Planes
Pulleys & Connectors
Measuring Tools
Children investigate how simple machines work while designing, testing, and improving their own creations.
Children explore everyday tools and discover how simple machines help people complete tasks.
Children investigate force and motion by pushing, pulling, lifting, and moving objects.
Children build ramps and test how height, distance, and surfaces affect movement.
Children explore how levers help lift and move objects using different designs.
Children investigate wheels and axles while creating moving inventions.
Children design, test, and improve creations while practicing problem solving.
Children become engineers by creating solutions and testing their ideas.
Children design vehicles using wheels, axles, and recycled materials.
Children test ramps and explore how objects move across different surfaces.
Children create designs that help move heavy objects using simple machines.
Build ramps, levers, pulleys, and moving inventions while solving design challenges.
Explore force, motion, cause and effect, and how machines work.
Create structures, machines, and transportation designs using blocks and materials.
Draw invention plans, create machine designs, and illustrate ideas.
Explore books about inventors, tools, engineering, and problem solving.
Measure distance, compare movement, and record engineering discoveries.
Children use creativity, curiosity, and problem solving to design solutions.
Children draw ideas and discuss how their designs will work.
Children use materials to create and construct their inventions.
Children test designs, make changes, and explain what they discovered.
Children explore everyday tools and discover simple machines found in their environment.
Explore Week One →Children investigate force and movement through hands-on experiments.
Explore Week Two →Children design and build machines using recycled materials and engineering ideas.
Explore Week Three →Children complete design challenges by planning, building, testing, and improving.
Explore Week Four →Plan STEM experiences focused on engineering, problem solving, force, and motion.
Document children's creativity, collaboration, experimentation, and engineering thinking.
Encourage families to explore tools, machines, and problem solving at home.
Resources to support engineering, STEM exploration, and classroom investigations.
Children draw and plan their own inventions before building.
View PrintableChildren record observations while testing engineering designs.
View PrintableFamilies can continue exploring engineering and simple machines through everyday experiences.
Look for tools and objects that help people push, pull, lift, or move things.
Use boxes, blocks, and recycled materials to create inventions as a family.
Encourage children to design solutions for everyday challenges.
