Levers, Pulleys and Gears - Lesson Plan

The Primary Science Advisory Service Ltd has crafted a comprehensive lesson plan for Year 5 students, centred around the science of forces, specifically levers, pulleys, and gears. This lesson is designed to help students understand how simple machines can amplify a small force to produce a greater effect. The lesson begins by engaging students in a series of science skills such as pattern seeking and researching using secondary resources. It aligns with the National Curriculum by enabling students to recognise the mechanical advantages provided by levers, pulleys, and gears. Students are encouraged to state and explain how machines make work easier, with specific examples such as the effect of using a longer lever or adding pulleys to reduce the effort needed to lift a load.

The lesson features a variety of hands-on activities, such as using the classroom door to demonstrate how a lever works, and constructing a lever system with a metre ruler and other simple materials to explore the relationship between effort and load. Additionally, pulleys are demonstrated to show how they can halve the effort required to lift a load. The lesson also includes an investigation into gears, where students can observe the directional change and speed variance between cogs of different sizes. Cross-curricular links are made with design and technology, maths, and history, and health and safety considerations are highlighted. To correct common misconceptions, the lesson clarifies that not all levers are the same and that the configuration of the fulcrum, effort, and load can vary. The lesson concludes with a plenary session where students can assess their understanding and progress through a series of reflective questions.