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What would life be like without machines?

What would life be like without machines?
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Think of a machine or tool that you have used since you woke up this morning.

Discuss: How did this machine make your life easier?

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Imagine that you are stranded on a desert island.

Discuss: If you could take only one invention with you, what would you take?

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Discuss: How might your class move a single block 150,000 pound block of stone using only rope and tree trunks?

Drawing Activity

Draw up your own idea. Keep it simple, for example:

Discuss: What did you come up with? [Timer on slide.]

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Extras Table of Contents

1) Consider going on a 'machine/tool' hunt around the classroom and school. See if students can identify things which wouldn't have existed 100 years ago.

2) Can anyone come up with a way to modify the lever to make lifting even easier?

Written Response Questions

1) In the lesson you thought of a machine or tool that you have used since you woke up this morning, and discussed how did it make your life easier. Now come up with two more examples.

Reveal answer

2) Now imagine that you didn't have those things. Describe what you would have to do instead.

Reveal answer

3) How much time would that add to your day? Estimate.

Reveal answer

4) When you are doing hard work your muscles begin to hurt, why do you think that is?

Reveal answer

Activity Prep

Print Prep
Preview activity

(teacher shares 2 or 3 she’s seen by walking around), students are invited to hang their ideas up on the wall later for classmates to see

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Energy Lesson 9: What would life be like without machines?

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