Simple Machines | Screws: Operation Propeller Power | 5th Grade STEM Innovators

Simple Machines | Screws: Operation Propeller Power | 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 design a boat that uses a screw propeller to deliver a secret message across a body of water.

Students will complete a lab on screws learning how they work and learning about mechanical advantage. After learning about screws, they will design their screw propeller to attach to their boat to deliver the secret message. Through testing and data collection, they evaluate how well their designs function and make evidence-based improvements, just like real engineers!

Students Will Learn How to:

• Identify types of real world things that are screws

• Learn why engineers would want to use screws

• Conduct a mini lab testing different materials to see if they will float

• Determine which property of screws was the most important in their design

• Collect and utilize data during this design challenge

• Compare their plan with what happened during testing

• Learn if their screw propeller enables their boat to cross the water keeping the message safe and why they think that was

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 Screw Propeller: In this unit, students will learn about common characteristics of screws and their various uses. Students will complete mini labs with screws to spark their curiosity. They will then design and build their own screw propeller to help their spy deliver a secret message across water!

Engineering Learning Goals in this unit include:

• Real-World Connections: Learn that engineers use simple machines like screws to create mechanical solutions to problems, propellers are a type of screw, how propellers move a boat forward, as well as about Greg Sharrow and a STEM career as a mechanical engineer.

• Making: Use a rubber band and materials to create a propeller to move a boat a certain distance. Re-design based on testing data.

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

• Science: Learn the parts of a screw, how to use a screw to make work easier (mechanical advantage), and about screws in the real world.

• Technology: Learn about screws and how they are used to solve problems, how a screw works, and that screws are used in so many everyday things.

• Math: Collect data of the design and use that data to make informed design changes, as well as multiplication, division, and 2-step problem solving.

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

• Small container (foam tray, milk carton, plastic container, craft sticks)

• Foam board

• Pencil, wooden dowel, skewer (propeller shaft)

• Cardboard, craft sticks or  plastic bottle cap (propeller blades)

• plastic straw

• Tape or teacher hot glue gun

• Rubber band (for spinning power)

• Paper (secret message)

• Scissors

• Teachers Guide also includes links to alternate propeller options

Testing Materials

• Tub of water/ sink/ tray

• Ruler

Exploring Screws:

• Screws and washers

• Jars and lids

• Archimedes screw (linked in Teacher Guide)

• Paper

• Pencil or wooden dowel

• Marker

Mini Lab: Testing Flotation

• Tub of water

• Sponge, plastic bottle, foam tray, milk carton, craft sticks

Mini Lab: Testing Propeller

• Foam board

• Rubber bands

• Craft sticks, dowels, skewers

• Glue

• Plastic bottle cap

• Plastic straws

• Scissors

• Testing station (find a way to hold the rubber band on each side so students can test their propellers) Include tissue paper strips or something light so they can see the direction of the thrust

2021 Science TEKS Standards Alignment (Texas)

• Practices: 5.1A-F

• Content: 5.7A, 5.7B, 5.7C