School Projects With Wheels & Axles

Making Wheels Spin

• As you begin your wheels and axles lesson, have your students make their own wheels to play with before they start to understand how these work to move objects.

  Materials:
  Long rubber bands
  Scissors
  Two lids (one small and one large - punch a hole in the center of each one)
  Paper puncher
  Straight pins
  Cardboard
  Masking tape
  Ruler
  String

  Instructions:
  1. Line up the two lids on a table approximately three inches apart.
  2. Cut a few rubber bands and then tie them together.
  3. Encircle the two lids with the rubber band without stretching the rubber band.
  4. Place the lids to the cardboard. Keep them far apart enough so that the rubber band is only stretched out slightly.
  5. Place the straight pins on the cardboard and bend them into the cardboard to secure the lids. Tape the pins so they stay in place.
  6. You can now spin the wheels.

The Similarity Between Levers and Wheels and Axles

• It can be confusing to students when you attempt to explain how levers, wheels and axles are similar. To better explain its relationship, show them how it works.

  Materials:
  Scissors
  2-by-2-foot box
  Broom
  Masking tape
  Ruler
  String
  Book

  Instructions:
  1. Cut a hole about the diameter of the broom stick on each side of the box.
  2. Push the broom through both holes in the box and center it.
  3. Tape a ruler at the end of the broom.
  4. Inside of the box, in the middle, tie a string to the broom stick and leave some hanging to loop the book onto it.
  5. Adjust the string by winding the excess string counterclockwise around the broom and then tape the string securely to the broom.
  6. Turn the ruler clockwise.
  7. Count the number of turns it takes to lift the book 2 inches.

How Wheels and Axles Make Objects Go Fast

• When explaining the efficiency of simple machines as opposed to no machines or wheels alone, show them by firing up their competitive side with a race.

  Materials:
  20 pens
  6 pencils
  2 strings 9 feet long
  6 to 10 heavy textbooks
  Toy truck (it must be able to withstand the weight of the heavy textbooks)
  Rubber bands
  Duct tape
  Table at least 8 feet long

  Instructions:
  1. Start by placing a stack of heavy textbooks on one side of the table. Have some students place a rubber band around the books and try to pull the books across the table. This will not be an easy task and this shows how not using a simple machine is not an efficient way to move material.
  2. Use the toy truck to move the books across the table. This shows the efficiency of wheels in moving objects.
  3. Separate your students into two teams. Take ten pencils (or wheels) and give them to each team. Place the pencils one inch apart, parallel to each other. Take a textbook, place it on the pencils and duct tape a string to the book. Place more books on top of the first textbook.
  4. Have the teams come to the opposite end of the table and hand to each one of the two strings to one person from each team. The person who pulls his pile of books to the other one first will win.

Moving Heavy Items Easier

• Simple machines, such as wheels and axles, make life much easier. Try this project with your students to show how simple machines do a lot of the hard work.

  Materials:
  Tabletop sharpener
  String
  Textbooks

  Instructions:
  1. Remove the pencil sharpener cover.
  2. Tie the string to the pencil sharpener's axle.
  3. Tie a few textbooks to the end of the string hanging down.
  4. Use the handle on the sharpener to raise the books.
  5. Take the books off the string and raise the books from the same distance.

  Which is easier? Using the wheel and axle to lift the books or physically lifting the books?