Forces: Gears, pulleys, levers and springs
This list contains resources to support the development of pupils' understanding of forces, specifically mechanical devices such as gears, pulleys, levers and springs. This curriculum area is introduced in the programme of study for Year 6 in the draft Primary National Curriculum (2013), and builds on knowledge and understanding developed during Year 2 (programme of study section 'Movement').
Science: Programme of study - Year 6 'Forces' (draft February 2013)
Programme of study (statutory requirements)
Pupils should be taught to:
• understand that force and motion can be transferred through mechanical devices such as gears, pulleys, levers and springs.
Notes and guidance (non-statutory)
Pupils might work scientifically by: designing and making a variety of parachutes and carrying out fair tests to determine which designs are the most effective. They might explore resistance in water by making and testing boats of different shapes. They might design and make a simple lever and explore its effects.
Year Five Teachers' Resource File
Ginn Science Resource File Year Five is a lengthy (225 page) file, revised in 1995 from the one first published in 1990.
Tools – Pages 125 – 134
The key ideas developed in this module are:
• levers and pulleys can be used to help move heavy loads
• tools are simple machines which help us to do work
Give it a lift with a lever
This online resouce provides teachers with ideas and background infomation to develop pupils' understanding of levers. Use the tabs across the top of the screen to locate ideas to personalise your class projects, and further background information.
Primary technology - using stories from history
Produced by the Association for Science Education (ASE), this book looks at technology from an historical perspective and through a series of engaging stories, each of which is linked with possible design-and-make projects.
Diego's Story
In the 16th Century, Diego sails to the West Indies through bad storms. He sees the Arawak culture and meets a girl who shows him their houses and hammocks.
Project: pulleys, sails, making a hammock and a compass.
Video: BBC Learning Zone - How do Levers work
Pupils investigate how levers work using tug of war equipment. When the girls are unevenly matched with the boys, they discover that moving the rope gives them more pulling power with less effort.
GCSE Bitesize: Mechanisms
This site will support primary teachers with their subject knowledge and understanding of mechanisms. This resource is not intended for use in the primary classroom.
Content relating to KS2 programme of study
Page 1 & 2 – levers
Page 5 & 6 – gears
Page 7 - pulley systems
KNEX Educuation
If your school has KNEX resources in school why not use them to develop the new programme of study focusing on forces. The KNEX introduction set, Simple Machines: Levers & Pulleys, aims to introduce pupils to the scientific concepts of levers and pulleys.