Lever, pulley, wheel and axle, and incline plane

Methods for making simple pulleys

Watch this!

Or this!

Or this!

Click the picture to explore using simple machines

Why did twitch use simple machines?
Which simple machines can be used to lift heavy objects?
Which can be used to make transporting objects easier?
How was each simple machine built?

Reduce, Recycle, REUSE

More ideas for re-purposing your items

Recycled and upcycled craft ideas

to help you think about how to re-purpose your item

Wait, recycling can be a bad thing?

I see students recycling juice boxes all the time and I'm not sure if they should.

1. What do you recycle that might be trash?

2. What will you think about before putting an item in the recycle bin?

Let's take old and create new

Your house is full of objects that contain minerals. You are looking for old or broken objects to repurpose as new works of art, toys or tools. Click the picture to learn which objects in your home contain minerals. 

repurpose - change for use in a different purpose

I'm excited to read about your rock's journey through the rock cycle

Step 1 - Click on this picture below to see a visual of the rock cycle.
Step 2 - Click on each part of the rock cycle to learn more.
Step 3 - The information you learn can now be added to your adventure story.

How many rock hunting rules can you recall?

How would the rules be different if you were hunting flowers? or frogs? or...? 
How would the rules be the same?

What will you do when you go hunting for things now?

What are the main materials found in soil?

Different plants require different amounts of clay, rocks, sand and organic mater for optimal growth. See if you can create the right soil mixture for growing wheat and potatoes. 

What do you see in the photo?

This is the result of strip mining. The top layer of soil and rock was removed so the ore, which is close to the surface, can be mined. 

What are some possible effects that this type of mining could have on the environment?

Click the pic to learn more

I remember a lot about igneous rocks!

When igneous rocks are formed by magma cooling slowly in the earth, large crystals develop. When lava cools quickly igneous rocks have smaller minerals and possibly some large minerals. Also, gas bubbles can get trapped in lava causing the igneous rock to become very light with large pours.

What characteristics make sedimentary rock unique?
What characteristics make metamorphic rock unique?

Now that you took a minute to think, test your knowledge by clicking on the link.

Still have questions about the rock cycle?

This video does an amazing job of explaining how the 3 types of rock are formed. If you still have questions after watching this video, write them on the wall tomorrow.

Need help drawing the rock cycle? Click the pic!

You could just copy the picture but I think the link in the picture is much more interesting.

You want to hear a good rock pun?

Give me a moment and I'll dig something up.

What is the hardest rock or mineral that you know?

Hardness is an important characteristic of rocks because it determines what humans can use them for.
Can you think of two ways that humans use hard rocks?
Can you think of two uses for soft rocks?

Now that you have used your brain, it's time to have some fun.

Choose an animal and keep it alive. Find plants and animals it needs to survive. And watch out for predators.

Different Rainforest Plants

Chicken Facts (I found a very interesting behaviour)

Cactus Facts