Students will use their knowledge of simple machines to design a working mechanical system and evaluate other systems. Students will work cooperatively within a group in order to accomplish a problem solving challenge. Students will use technology to work collaboratively with other schools and classrooms. Each class will choose a simple task to complete. The design must include at least one of each of the six simple machines.
Students build and test the actual fanciful machine.
Each class will decide upon the BEST design for their class. The best designs from each class will be submitted to the contest with a diagram, picture of machine, and picture of student team. This information will be published on the Web Site. Each of these designs will also be videotaped and forwarded to each of the participating schools. Each participating class will evaluate the videotaped designs, including an analysis of the use of simple machines, using a standard rubric.