Virginia SOL 3.2.c

Science3rd GradeForce, Motion, and Energy

The Standard

simple machines increase or change the direction of a force

Virginia Standards of Learning for Science

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students identify how levers, pulleys, ramps, and other simple machines affect an applied force. They use observations and force arrows to explain whether a machine changes force size, direction, or both.
What Mastery Looks Like: Students can compare doing a task with and without a simple machine. They can explain why a lever may increase the output force and why a fixed pulley changes the pulling direction.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think simple machines create force or eliminate work. They may assume every pulley reduces the needed force, or that a longer ramp requires more force because it covers more distance.
How to Assess It: Give students a picture of a lever lifting a rock and a fixed pulley raising a flag. Ask which changes force size, which changes direction, and why.

Lesson moves

Use a ruler, pencil fulcrum, and eraser load to test how moving the fulcrum changes the force needed.
Explain why pulling down on a flagpole rope makes the flag move up, using arrows to show both force directions.
Play a card sort matching simple machines with tasks, then label each match as changing force size, direction, or both.
Find simple machines on playground equipment and explain how each one helps a person push, pull, lift, split, or turn.

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