Lesson 15 of 84 · Simple Machines

Lesson⭐ 30 XP🛠️ Engineer Shop

Spinning Tops

🧪Lab Brief #15

Simple Machines.

🎯 Your mission

Master the concept. Use it tomorrow.

⚡ The twist

Every solution creates a new problem. That's good — that's the next project.

🤯

Mind = Blown

🌉 The Eiffel Tower can grow 6 inches taller in summer because metal expands when hot.

🔮

Make a hypothesis first

Predict: which design will hold the most weight?

What You'll Learn

Spinning a top keeps it standing up. When it stops spinning, it falls over!

Key Words

light
wheel
ramp

Steps

Step 1 — Read

Ask a grown-up to explain today's topic: Simple Machines.

Step 2 — Do

Build a tower with blocks. How tall can you make it before it falls?

Step 3 — Observe

Draw a picture of what you see.

Step 4 — Record

Share what you learned with someone!

Check Your Understanding

Question 1

1 of 3

Can wind push a kite?

How sure are you going to be?😐 maybe

🌍

Where you see this in real life

Your phone, your bike, your shoes — all designed with this idea.

🏆

Stretch Challenge

Try this in real life this week.

Build something — anything — out of stuff in your recycling bin.

👨‍👩‍👧

For the dinner table

“What's something around the house you'd redesign — and how?”

🎯

Next Smart Experiment

We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.

🪨Share card

Share this experiment

Send it to a parent who's looking for a 10-minute kitchen science win.

🖨️

Checkout complete lesson on Simple Machines for Pre-School

Get the full Simple Machines track as a printable PDF — all lessons, worksheets, and answer keys.

View in Shop

Done with science? Try something else

🎮Science Games 🔢Math 📖Flashcards 🖨️Print Worksheet 💻Coding 🛍️Shop 🎲I'm Bored