Lesson 30 of 84 · Simple Machines

Experiment⭐ 30 XP🛠️ Engineer Shop

Can You Balance It?

🧪Lab Brief #30

Simple Machines.

🎯 Your mission

Predict it first. Then prove yourself right (or wrong).

⚡ 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

Toys with wheels are easier to move across the floor than toys without wheels.

Key Words

still
push
pull

Materials Needed

cardboard
marbles
paper clips
rubber bands
blocks
spring scale

Safety First

Adult supervision recommended.
Do not taste any materials.
Wear safety goggles when mixing liquids.

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.

🖨️

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