The grade 4’s are continuing their study of machines and mechanisms. Today they began an inquiry around levers.

We started out with a question:

Then it was time to investigate.  Students followed directions to complete the following experiment:

Students: 

1. If you had to move a heavy boulder in order to dig a new garden, how would you design your lever? Think about the materials you would use and where you would position the fulcrum.
2. If you had to move a pile of stones to put around the edge of your garden, what kind of lever would you use? Would it be the same or different from the lever to move the boulder? Explain.