A friend of mine set up this simple lever activity for the science coop we created this summer. Each kid had a long piece of wood, some blocks, and a rock. They used the blocks to create their pivot point, and then learned how, the closer the rock was on the long piece of wood to the pivot point (also called the fulcrum), the easier it was to lift the rock!
I’m linking this post up to Science Sunday at Adventures in Mommydom.
MaryAnne is a craft loving educator, musician, photographer, and writer who lives in Silicon Valley with her husband Mike and their four children.
This is so cool! We will have to try this one with Jamie! Thank you!
.-= Susana´s last blog ..Mama in the Middle =-.
I adore physics (almost switched my major), and this looks like so much fun!! Phenomenal photo, too.
How great to have a science coop. Wish we lived near you…
.-= Elisa | blissfulE´s last blog ..Nikki plays ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb’ =-.
This is very clever – I wonder if I could recreate it here. I am sure kids enjoyed this simple science a lot.
.-= Natalie´s last blog ..Money- Money- Money… =-.
@Jen – When I first saw the set-up, I was a little concerned about catapult potential, but luckily the weight of the rock combined with the low pivot point made that impossible =)
@Ticia – That absolutely makes sense, because I have the same problem!
I love the simplicity!
.-= Almost Unschoolers´s last blog ..What My Child is Reading – September 4- 2010 – Books About Bats =-.
That’s one of those ones that I always remember the lesson, but don’t actually remember it to apply it, if that makes sense.
.-= Ticia´s last blog ..Science Sunday- Salt Lake =-.
Very nice introduction to simple machines.
.-= Phyllis´s last blog ..The August Break 30- El Submarino Argentinian Hot Chocolate for Tea Time =-.
Neat lever. Very simple and easy to assemble!
.-= Janelle´s last blog ..Hatching Dinosaur Eggs- Lesson in Absorption – Science Sunday Experiment =-.
How fun. This is the sort of learning activity that never occurs to me.
.-= Jaimie´s last blog ..Self Portrait Saturday 13- September 4th- 2010- Watching Fall Blow In =-.
Very cool! Almost looks like you could launch that rock into the air!
.-= Jen´s last blog ..Jam Blueberry- Raspberry- and Strawberry! =-.
LOVE it. So simple and educational! Definitely starring this in my reader. :)
.-= lynn´s last blog ..Preschool Corner-Weekly Wrap-Up =-.