The 2nd graders will learn SO much in our newest unit! We will focus on simple machines, weather and weather instruments, geography, and mechanical engineering!
First, we learned about the SIX simple machines, and also learning the famous simple machines song :) Ask your child to sing it for you!
Next, the 2nd graders used one of my favorite websites, Edheads.org to explore a house and find simple machines in everyday objects. Each time they found a machine, they had to identify the work it did and the type of simple machine it was.
After that, the students took a closer look at a few simple machines - wheels & axles and gears. Using LEGO components, building instructions, and their partners, each group built a model that would move with the help of a LEGO motor to give the students a closer look at how simple machines can be combined to make more complex machines.
Leif is a young boy who lives in Denmark. He loves fisk, while his cousin, Dana, loves the weather. We'll learn a lot about both, including mechanical engineering in this unit! To begin with, we learned a little about the location and customs of Denmark. Our first mini-project in this unit was to begin our weather station by making anemometers!