Wedge Lesson

Wedges

This lesson is intended to address the BC Grade 5 Physical Science Learning Outcomes but may be adapted to suit a wide range of grade levels from Primary to Intermediate.

Objective

Students will be able to tell what a wedge is demonstrate how a wedge makes work easier give a real life example of a wedge

Introductory Note

The teacher will guide students to discover that a wedge, can make raising or splitting an object apart easier. Discussion about wedges will follow the discovery lesson.

Activity

Exploration of materials at stations to determine what is a wedge and what is not.

Materials

Station One: Fashion Design 101

• class set of large sewing needles with thread
• variety of buttons, bells that can be sewn on, sequins, beads,etc.
• lightly used sweater (cardigan type)

Station Two: Picasso Paintings

• paint brushes
• paint trays or containers with paint
• paper

Station Three: My Initials

• 6 small craft hammers
• 200 1" nails ( 10 nails per student)
• scrap boards donated by local carpenter (need a small board for each student to hammer nails into)

Station Four: Calendar Capers

• 6 pairs of scissors
• 3X3 squares of coloured tag; 2 per student minimum
• tagboard tracers of shapes under 3" such as apples, frogs, or butterflies
• pencils

Procedure

• At Station One the task is for each student to sew decorative pieces such as buttons, bells, sequins,etc (using a needle and thread) on the sweater.
• At Station Two the task is to paint like Picasso - piant a picture.
• At Station Three the task is to hammer nails into a board to form your first initial.
• At Station Four the task is to trace, then cut out shapes on tagboard to be used for the classroom calendar.

1. Set up 4 stations with appropriate materials.
2. Explain stations to students.
3. Divide class into four groups, with one group starting at each station
4. Each group will have a turn at each station, approximately 5 to 7 minutes.
5. As students rotate through ask them to think about the tools they are using for each activity.

Discussion

Whole Class Discussion

• A wedge is used for splitting something apart, peircing things or to raise up very heavy objects.
• Three of the four stations had tools that were wedges. Which stations were they and which tools were they?
• Is a shovel a wedge? Is a ladder a wedge? Can you think of other examples of wedges?

Extensions

If you take two of the simple machine I am thinking of and place them together they form a wedge. What am I thinking of?

Return to: Simple Machines