Discovering Forces and Simple Machines

This week, Grade 1 wrapped up our exploration of science and forces! The students worked in pairs and small groups to explain a force of their choice from our class list. They were free to express their understanding in any way that suited them best — by illustrating on paper, talking about their ideas, or even demonstrating with objects and videos. It was wonderful to see how confidently they shared not only what each force does but also their thoughts on how forces can be both helpful and not so helpful in our daily lives.The whole class did look at their classmates' worka and provided constructive feedback at the end. After wrapping up forces, we began a brand-new inquiry into simple machines. To spark curiosity, we observed a set of pictures showing everyday objects like zippers, ramps, and more. Students were asked to decide which ones are machines and which are not — and to their surprise, they discovered that all of them are actually simple machines! As young researchers, our Grade 1 learners are now eager to dig deeper into the form and function of these simple machines. Over the coming weeks, they’ll identify examples of common objects around us that make use of these fascinating mechanisms — from the ones we use at home to the tools we see in our environment.