Not-So-Simple Machines at Home - A FREE unit of STEAM curriculum supports students and families during remote learning

Virtually Maker Faire 2020

May 22nd-23rd

Here at the League of Young Inventors we’ve developed a FREE unit of STEAM curriculum called Not-So-Simple Machines for students and families to do at home. It includes 5 lessons featuring the science, history, and hands-on build instructions for inclined planes, wedges, levers, and wheels + axles.

Elementary students are guided through interactive self-contained lessons where they use everyday materials to tinker with inclined planes while making marble runs, watch wedges soar through the air with competing paper airplanes and launchers, send objects flying with levers and catapults, and customize a rolling toy car with wheels + axles.

Each lesson includes:
*A video that guides students through an entire hands-on science project and build, teaching engineering concepts along the way

*A list of common household and crafting items for families to find and use

*An online guide with optional extension activities

What are the problems you aim to help solve with this project?:

During this time of remote learning, the League of Young Inventors aims to ensure that students and teachers have access to an engaging STEAM curriculum that challenges them to create their own solutions to real world problems.

What are some of the major challenges you have encountered and how did you address them?:

We recognize that accessing craft items is not always simple, particularly during these uncertain times. To remedy this, we have adapted our projects to utilize common household items such as cardboard boxes, craft sticks, utensils, and more. We have also carefully thought out how to substitute common items from home, like scissors and pencils, for hard to find maker tools, like canary cutters. These adjustments have made our programs much more accessible during this remote learning season.