4th Grade / Science Links: Simple Machines and Weather

Edheads -- Simple Machines

"Learn about simple and compound machines while you explore the House and Tool Shed!"

http://www.edheads.org/activities/simple-machines/

MiKids -- Simple Machines

This link offers excellent descriptions and guides for off-line activities that can be completed at home.

http://www.mikids.com/Smachines.htm

Dirtmeister's Science Reporters -- Simple Machines

This is a Scholastic website that has terrific activities, and ongoing guidance and references to the scientific process.

http://teacher.scholastic.com/dirtrep/simple/index.htm

Simple Machines Learning Site

This takes the student to a basic but very nice webpage that explains each type of machine in very friendly fourth-grade language; it also sets out activities and offers additional resources.

http://atlantis.coe.uh.edu/archive/science/science_lessons/scienceles1/finalhome.htm

Tinker Ball

"Use your engineering skills and simple machines to get a ball into a cup."

http://www.inventionatplay.org/playhouse_tinker.html

Fantastic Contraption

Use interactive tools to create simple and complex machines.

http://fantasticcontraption.com/

Build a Rube Goldberg Machine

Read the directions carefully before you begin.

http://www.fossweb.com/modules3-6/LeversandPulleys/activities/rubegoldbergmachine.html

Mechanical Madness

Students figure out how to make kinetic machines work. Users progress through levels of difficulty. It's fun!

http://pbskids.org/dragonflytv/games/game_mechanical.html

Power Play -- Build Machines to Get the Job Done

Users create interactive machines during this animated activity to accomplish certain jobs. The program allows users to try again when the make mistakes.

http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/interactives/powerplay.html

http://www.forgefx.com/casestudies/prenticehall/ph/catapult/design-test-simulation.htm

Build a virtual catapult and launch paintballs at a castle.

http://www.forgefx.com/casestudies/prenticehall/ph/catapult/design-test-simulation.htm

Gadget Anatomy

This activity is short, but good.

http://www.mos.org/sln/Leonardo/GadgetAnatomy.html

EdHeads -- Weather

Learn how to report and predict the weather at the underground W.H.E.D. weather caves!

http://www.edheads.org/activities/weather/frame_loader.htm

Edheads -- Report and Predict the Weather

These activities are a great way to review and practice use of weather symbols.

http://edheads.org/activities/weather/frame_loader.htm

The Weather Channel

http://www.weather.com/

Web Weather for Kids

This is informative, has terrific illustrations, and allows students to apply knowledge through interactive games.

http://eo.ucar.edu/webweather/index.html

A Drop in the Water Cycle

Place your cursor over the red arrows to see the possible paths a drop of water could follow. Click one of the processes to move the raindrop to a new location. Move your cursor over the red arrows and choose another process to move the raindrop again. Keep moving the raindrop through several paths of the water cycle.

http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es0105/es0105page01.cfm?chapter_no=visualization

Interactive Weather Maker -- Scholastic

Users control temperatures and relative humidity to change the weather over a small house.

http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/wwatch/sim/game.htm

Weather Flash

Help Stan, the weather forecaster, with his map.

http://www.powertolearn.com/games/weatherflash.html

Observe Clouds Form

A steady supply of rising moist air is required to build cumulus clouds. As moist air rises to the condensation level, clouds begin to form. If drier air reaches the same level, clouds that had just formed can evaporate and disappear from view. Varying amounts of moisture in rising air result in clouds forming, then dissipating, in this time-lapse sequence.

http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es1803/es1803page01.cfm?chapter_no=visualization

Air Pressure Affects a Rising Balloon

This animation shows how the volume and pressure inside a sealed balloon change as the balloon rises or descends.

http://This animation shows how the volume and pressure inside a sealed balloon change as the balloon rises or descends.

Observe an animation of a hurricane.

Click the image to see the animation.

http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es2008/es2008page01.cfm?chapter_no=visualization

Examine an animation of a tornado.

Click the image to see the animation. Click the button below to compare the size of the tornado with buildings.

http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es2006/es2006page01.cfm?chapter_no=visualization

Compare and contrast warm and cold fronts.

Click the cold front or warm front to see the animation.