In second grade, my students did a project on simple machines. They learned about each of the simple machines and experimented with them. Then they built a complex machine for our "crush-off" can crusher contest. Students worked in teams to build a complex machine that could crush aluminum foil cans as completely as possible. Students then had a contest to see which machine could crush the can the flattest.
Projects:
- dinosaurs
- space
- pond animals
- family history
- frog study
- scientific method
- Ellis Island
- simple machines
- chess
