Structures and Mechanisms: Grade 5 - Forces Acting on Structures and Mechanisms

1. demonstrate an understanding of the effect of forces acting on different structures and mechanisms;
2. design and make load-bearing structures and different mechanisms, and investigate the forces acting on them;
3. evaluate the design of systems that include structures and mechanisms, and identify modifications to improve their effectiveness.

Site Name	Online	O.E.	Description
SAE World in Motion Kit		1,2	This is an excellent interactive Canadian site created by SAE, the Society of Automotive Engineers. It contains metric lesson plans, definitions, recording sheets and engineer’s links. It is divided into 5 units: Get Moving, Power Up, Slow Down, Move Easy and Airborne.
Visualize Science		1	This site contains a wide range of simulated activities useful to explore a variety of concepts in the Structures and Mechanisms and Energy and Control Strands.
The Laws of Motion		1	This is an interactive site with good diagrams, definitions and lots of data.
Hands-on Science Centers Worldwide.		1,2	This page contains pointers to public museums with a strong emphasis on interactive science education.
Domed Stadium		1	Find out how moving air can support weight in different conditions.
Levers		1	Basic information on classes of levers.
Simple Machines		1,2,3	Learn about simple and compound machines while you explore the House and the Tool Shed