My TopicQuest Page

Mrs. Wilkinson's TopicQuest:
Work Made
Easy!
Designed by Mrs. Wilkinson's for 6th Grade Science Students


*Did you know that work can be easy? I Know! You're probably thinking that work is work, and work is not* easy! Do you want to discover what does make work easy? Then, continue with your visit.**

1. Before you discover how to make work easy, you need to know exactly what work is. Check here for the meaning of work.

2. Even before recorded history, machines helped the cave man do work. to read a creative story of how the caveman may have used machines.

3. Explore this site and learn more about a fascinating scientist, inventor, and artist, sketched ideas of many machines hundred of years ahead of their time .

4. Have you ever faced the task of lifting an object from a lower level to a higher level? You probably know the job is much easier if you used a ramp. A ramp is just one example of a simple machine. Do you need pictures to help you understand simple machines?

5. Simple machines make our work easier by enabling us to use less mechanical effort to move an object. Have questions? Look here.

6. Like most things in the scientific world simple machines are classified and sorted into classes. What are the six classes of simple machines? Need answers? Look here!

7. The six classes are also arranged into two families. Did you know that machines have families too? What are the two families of simple machines?
out this site.

8. Many devices that you can observe around you don't resemble the six simple machines that you have learned about. That's because more complex machines from the pencil sharpener in you room to the computer you're sitting at are made of a combination of simple machines. What is a machine called that consists of two or more simple machines?

9. Whether you zip your jacket, eat with a fork, screw the top on the peanut butter jar, or pull in the catch of the day with a fishing pole, you are using a simple machine. You probably have never given much though to these and other inventions, which make work so easy for you. Tour this site of American inventors and the machines they invented.

10. View the movie at this web site and then take the quiz to test your new knowledge on simple machines. Good Luck!

	1. Before you discover how to make work easy, you need to know exactly what work is. Check here for the meaning of work.
	2. Even before recorded history, machines helped the cave man do work. to read a creative story of how the caveman may have used machines.
	3. Explore this site and learn more about a fascinating scientist, inventor, and artist, sketched ideas of many machines hundred of years ahead of their time .
	4. Have you ever faced the task of lifting an object from a lower level to a higher level? You probably know the job is much easier if you used a ramp. A ramp is just one example of a simple machine. Do you need pictures to help you understand simple machines?
	5. Simple machines make our work easier by enabling us to use less mechanical effort to move an object. Have questions? Look here.
	6. Like most things in the scientific world simple machines are classified and sorted into classes. What are the six classes of simple machines? Need answers? Look here!
	7. The six classes are also arranged into two families. Did you know that machines have families too? What are the two families of simple machines? out this site.
	8. Many devices that you can observe around you don't resemble the six simple machines that you have learned about. That's because more complex machines from the pencil sharpener in you room to the computer you're sitting at are made of a combination of simple machines. What is a machine called that consists of two or more simple machines?
	9. Whether you zip your jacket, eat with a fork, screw the top on the peanut butter jar, or pull in the catch of the day with a fishing pole, you are using a simple machine. You probably have never given much though to these and other inventions, which make work so easy for you. Tour this site of American inventors and the machines they invented.
	10. View the movie at this web site and then take the quiz to test your new knowledge on simple machines. Good Luck!


Mission Scenario #1 You are a young reporter with the Los Angeles Times. You are about to complete an interview with actor, Michael J. Fox on the movie set of Back to the Future when you are suddenly caught in a time warp. You traveled back to the 1920s to the workshop of Garrett Augustus Morgan where he is busily putting the final touches on his latest invention, the traffic signal.
Steps to Follow 1. Click here to visit the web site of a great American inventor. 2. Print out the biographical informatin on Garrett Augustus Morgan. *3. Using Student Writing Center, a word processing program, write a newspaper article on your interview with this American inventor.* 4. In your article compare and contrast the way life was before and after the invention of the traffic signal.
QCCs Science: 12.1 Describes six types of simple machines 12.2 Recognizes the simple machines that make up a compound machine Technology: Operates basic technology tools and applications

Rubric for Mission Scenario #1


	Beginning 1	Developing 2	Accomplished 3	Score
6th Grade Science - Objective 7.20 Describes Characteristics of Simple Machines	Student defines the scientific meaning of work.	Student defines the scientific meaning of work and identifies when work is done on an object	Student defines the scientific meaning of work; identifies when work is done on an object; and calculates the work done on an object.
6th Grade Technology - Objective 7.4 Operates basic technology tools and applications	Student operates basic technology tools and applications with extra help from teacher.	Student operates basic technology tools and applications with some help from teacher.	Student operates basic technology tools and applications with little help from teacher.


Mission Scenario #2 The time is 1066 and William the Duke of Normandy is king of England. William the Conqueror, as the king was also known, has taken all the land of the English nobility and divided it among his royal followers. The king has heard rumors that the nobles are planning to challenge his rule. You are the town's inventor, and the king has summoned you to his castle. You're given orders to built a machine that would protect the king's castle from the nobles' invasion.
Steps to Follow 1. The class will be divided into teams of two members. Each team will receive a bag having the same type and number of K'Nex or LEGO parts. 2. These parts will be the only building materials which may be used. 3. Each team will design and build their machine/catapult. 4. Each team will be given six rubber bands, which will be used to power the catapult. 5. A target will be setup 1.00 meter from the catapult. 6. The catapults must be free standing and designed to be fired using one hand. 7. Half the class will be the Normans, who are the king and his followers. The other half of the class will be the nobles. 8. During the competition, each team will launch an egg at the target. 9. Each team will receive 50 points for each unbroken egg that lands within the form lined target, and 100 points for each egg that strikes the target. 10. The side (Normans or nobles), which receives the most points will be declared victors of the battle.
QCCs Science: 12.1 Describes six types of simple machines 12.2 Recognizes the simple machines that make up a compound machine Mathematics: Objective 1 Selects and uses appropriate tools (such as mental computation, calculators, manipulative materials, paper and pencil, computer) in solving problems. Objective 21 Selects and uses appropriate customary and metric units of measure for length and weight. Technology: Operates basic technology tools and applications

Rubric for Mission Scenario #2


	Beginning 1	Developing 2	Accomplished 3	Score
6th Grade Science- 12.1 Describes six types of simple machines 12.2 Recognizes the simple machines that make up a compound machine Mathematics- Objective 1 Selects and uses appropriate tools (such as mental computation, calculators, manipulative materials, paper and pencil, computer) in solving problems. Objective 21 Selects and uses appropriate customary and metric units of measure for length and weight.	Student identifies one simple machine used in the catapult, but needs help with the description of the simple machine. Student needs extra help in weighing the materials and calculating the distance from the catapult to the target.	Student identifies more than one simple machine, but omits the description of one or more of the simple machines; Student uses the correct tools, but needs some help to calculate the metric weight and measurement.	Student identifies and describes all components of simple machines used in constructing the catapult; and correctly weighs the materials and calculates the distance from the catapult to the target.
6th Grade Technology - Objective 7.4 Operates basic technology tools and applications	Student operates basic technology tools and applications with extra help from teacher.	Student operates basic technology tools and applications with some help from teacher.	Student operates basic technology tools and applications with little help from teacher.

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