Simple Machines | Inclined Planes: Operation Swift Escape | 5th Grade STEM Innovators

Simple Machines | Inclined Planes: Operation Swift Escape | 5th Grade STEM Innovators

In this hands on challenge, students create a mechanical solution to solve a problem. The unit brings together engineering and physical science topics for an engaging design challenge. The challenge is to safely transport a spy from a high place to safety.
Students will complete a lab on inclined planes, learning how they work and how a zip line is a type of inclined plane. After learning about inclined planes, they will design their spy’s inclined plane (zipline) and test it to see if it is functional.

In This Lesson, Students Will:

• Learn how inclined planes are used in ziplines

• Learn why engineers would want to use inclined planes

• Conduct a scientific experiment with an inclined plane

• Discover which property of inclined planes is most important in their design

• Use their zipline to deliver their "spy" safely from a higher to a lower location

• Learn to collect and use data

STEM Innovators Storyline (Adaptable for Grades 3 - 5): Agents, your mission begins now. The world’s top spy agency has recruited the brightest minds for a series of top-secret operations. Your task: design and engineer cutting-edge spy gadgets to crack codes, outsmart villains, and save the day. Succeed, and you’ll rise through the ranks to become an elite STEM Innovator, trusted with the world’s most classified missions.

A Mission to Design a Zip Line: In this unit, students will learn about common characteristics of inclined planes and their various uses. Students will complete a mini lab to spark their curiosity. They will then design and build their own zipline to help their spy travel safely from a higher to lower location.

Engineering Learning Goals in this unit include:

• Real-World Connections: Learning that ziplines are a type of inclined plane as well as about zipline parks and the role of a Director of Operations in a zipline park.

• Making: Using a fishing line to create a zipline and making a harness or container to carry the spy (ping pong ball), and re-designing based on testing data.

• Habits of Mind: Working as a team to build a design that solves a problem and communicating ideas and provide feedback to peers.

• Science: Learning the parts of an inclined plane, how to use an inclined plane to make work easier, and about inclined planes in the real world.

• Technology: Learning about inclined planes and how they are used to solve problems, how an inclined plane works, and that inclined planes are used in so many everyday things.

• Math: Collecting data of the design, using the data to make informed design changes, as well as multiplication, division, and patterns.

Included in this product:

• Aligned to: NGSS, TEKS, and ITEEA Standards

• Complete Teacher Guide following the engineering design process

• Materials list and activity suggestions

• Editable teaching slides

• Student handouts for each phase of the design process, including science background, STEM career connection, and more!

• Two versions of student badges for completing the mission: pre-colored or a black and white option for students to color themselves to celebrate!

Recommended Supplies:

Building Materials

• 2 straws

• 2 craft sticks

• 12 inches of yarn

• 1 foot masking tape

• 4 pipe cleaners

• 4 washers or pennies

• 4 paper clips

• 1 card stock sheet

• Paper bag

Testing Materials

• 1 ping pong ball

• About 9 feet of fishing line, nylon thread, or smooth string

• Tape, hook, or nail to attach the zipline 

• Stopwatch

• Student handouts

• Teacher slides

Demo:

• Books

• Wooden ramp

• 2 raw eggs or 2 plastic Easter eggs

Mini Lab:

• Books

• Wooden ramp

• String

• Toy car or anything to pull up the ramp

• Ruler

• Small cup

• Pennies or marbles
  

2021 Science TEKS Standards Alignment (Texas)

• Practices: 5.1A, 5.1B, 5.1D, 5.1E, 5.1F; 5.2C, 5.2D; 5.3A, 5.3B

• Content: 5.7A