There are lots of places to look for Simple and Complex Machines. They really are everywhere! They are in your home, garage, tool shed, yard, and neighborhood. You also can visit a hardware store, department store (tool department, home and garden department, etc.) or large home improvement warehouse.
This post is about visiting a large home improvement warehouse. You can turn your weekly shopping adventure into a field trip for the kids. Teachers, you can call ahead to a store and then pick a non-busy store time to take your class. I have taken 22 kids to Home Depot. We called ahead and they had 2 different wonderful employees meet with us and each gave the kids a little tour. (We did simple machines and plants on the same day.)
The kids can bring pencils and notebooks for sketching and labeling simple machines or cameras.
Here are pictures of a few of the simple and complex machines found at my my local Home Depot.
Wheels and Axles.
Levers and Wheels and Axles
Levers
Levers
Levers
Wheels and Axles
Pulley
Levers and Wedges
Wheels and Axle
Wheels and Axles
Some of the stores also have a small selection of children's books.
After the trip the kids can can make booklets, posters, or slide shows to show what they observed and learned.
If any of the employees help you out, the kids can make and send thank-you notes (and pictures) to the store mentioning the helpful employees' names, what they learned, and what they enjoyed about the trip. (... a language arts tie in.)
I always like FREE field trips with the kids!!!
Have fun!
__________________________________________________________________
This post is about visiting a large home improvement warehouse. You can turn your weekly shopping adventure into a field trip for the kids. Teachers, you can call ahead to a store and then pick a non-busy store time to take your class. I have taken 22 kids to Home Depot. We called ahead and they had 2 different wonderful employees meet with us and each gave the kids a little tour. (We did simple machines and plants on the same day.)
The kids can bring pencils and notebooks for sketching and labeling simple machines or cameras.
Here are pictures of a few of the simple and complex machines found at my my local Home Depot.
Levers and Wheels and Axles
Levers
Levers
Levers
Levers and Wedges
Wheels and Axle
Some of the stores also have a small selection of children's books.
After the trip the kids can can make booklets, posters, or slide shows to show what they observed and learned.
If any of the employees help you out, the kids can make and send thank-you notes (and pictures) to the store mentioning the helpful employees' names, what they learned, and what they enjoyed about the trip. (... a language arts tie in.)
I always like FREE field trips with the kids!!!
Have fun!
__________________________________________________________________
This is a great idea!
ReplyDeleteThis is a totally new idea for me. What a great one! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post. This is an excellent way to learn about machines. An even better idea was to call ahead and set up a tour. That's really nice of them to serve the community.
ReplyDeleteGreat field trip idea! Can't wait for field trips :)
ReplyDeleteI'm a new follower from the Tuesday Twitter hop, please stop on by my blog www.mommydigger.com and follow my blog and Twitter @MommyDigger :)
This is SO smart! I'll be taking my 1st grader to the hardware store this summer!
ReplyDeleteVisiting from the MomsReviews4You hop. I LOVE this kind of field trip...priceless!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! New follower.
ReplyDeleteWho would have thought there was so much learning to take place in "The Home Depot"?! I am never going look at this kind of store in the same old boring way ever again ... So much so I reckon my husband will get suspicious!!
ReplyDeleteDonna :) :)
What an awesome idea. I need to do that when I am teaching this to my class!
ReplyDeletelove simple machines and love the field trip! thanks for the post!
ReplyDelete