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Can You Catch a Leprechaun Using a Wheel and Axle?


Operation Catch a Leprechaun is officially in full swing!  Come slide down rainbows, hunt for four leaf clovers and search for those gleaming pots of gold with us as we incorporate as much STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) as we can into this fun St. Patrick's Day activity.  In the next week or so we will be learning all about the six simple machines.  We will then mix in a little art along with our knowledge of these machines to build some pretty sweet leprechaun traps.  We hope to catch a leprechaun and have him lead us to the gold! Come join us for the fun!  We will update the blog daily with our current activity.  

No worries if you missed our first post!  Get the full Catch a Leprechaun lesson plan here and check out our recycled rainbows and other rainbow activities. 
Our objective is to build leprechuan traps using one or more of the six simple machines.  So we must first learn all about these machines, starting with the wheel and axle... 

Wheel and Axle

 After lunch today, we learned about the wheel and axle. Miss 4's assignment was to gather her blocks and guess which one would roll like a wheel. Even though she knew the answer, we made her try to roll each of the shapes.

Next, we demonstrated how a wheel and axle work with some round foam beads we found at the Dollar Tree and some toothpicks.   We also demonstrated with square and heart shaped foam beads.  


We demonstrated a simple cart or wagon by placing a Play Mag on top of our two axles. 



We then asked Miss 4 to make a wheel and axle with blocks.  She did a great job creating a rolling wagon to carry the chocolate gold coins she plans to use to lure the leprechauns.



Homework: Have your little leprechaun hunter gather or draw objects around the house that demonstrate a wheel and axle.

Here are the examples that Miss 4 rounded up.  Obviously, because of her age, she went for the most common examples of wheel and axles.  And that's great!



Assessment- Have an adult gather small household objects that DO and Do NOT demonstrate a wheel and axle.  Place the objects on a tray or table and let your little hunter point out which ones are examples of wheel and axles.

I gathered the following: spinning bell instrument, fork, duck pull toy, banana, clock, ball, rolling pin, pliers, pizza wheel, sunglasses.


I was impressed by the thought that Miss 4 put into her answers.

                        Her wheel and axle pile.                                Her non- wheel and axle pile.


I'd say she did a great job!  When I told her she only missed one she immediately grabbed the rolling pin.  She studied it for a while and with a little help and demonstration could finally see the axle running through the middle of the wooden wheel.

Other Examples of Wheel and Axles:

*rolling pin
*pizza wheel
*rotary phone
*roller skates
*door knob 
*bell instrument
*toy truck, car
*wagon
*clock hands
*fans
*windmill
*wheel barrow 
*top
*merry-go-round 
*fishing reel
*bicycle 

Now that we've learned all about the wheel and axle we are thinking of ways that we can incorporate what we have learned into our leprechaun traps.  Which of the six simple machines will we use?  Stick with us to find out!  Won't you make a trap with us!  Stay tuned for the inclined plane.

See all of our Catch a Leprechaun posts:

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