Levers. Pulleys and Gears - Teacher Explanation

Welcome to lesson 5.5 on Levers, Pulleys, and Gears, part of the Year 5 Forces unit in line with the National Curriculum. This lesson will help pupils understand how mechanisms like levers, pulleys, and gears can amplify a smaller force to achieve a greater effect. Safety is key, so any spills from liquids used in the lesson should be promptly cleaned up. Additionally, caution is advised when handling bamboo skewers due to their sharp ends. The lesson offers cross-curricular opportunities, such as Design and Technology, where pupils will create a simple lever, and Mathematics, where they can graph their experimental results. They can also delve into the historical significance of these mechanisms by researching ancient construction marvels like Stonehenge and the pyramids of Giza.

The class activity introduces the concepts of fulcrum, load, and effort through the practical example of a classroom door, demonstrating how a door functions as a simple lever. Pupils will experiment with the placement of force on the door, observing how the distance from the fulcrum (the hinges) affects the effort needed to move the door. This hands-on approach helps them understand the principles of levers. They will also explore pulleys by setting up a system that demonstrates how pulleys can reduce the effort needed to lift a load. Finally, the lesson on gears will have pupils construct their own gears, learning about gear ratios and how different sized gears affect the effort required to move an object. This comprehensive lesson aims to provide a fun and engaging way for pupils to grasp the practical applications of simple machines in our everyday lives.