About this kids pack
Gear Up Simple Machines is a two-page engineering PDF for ages 7–11. Page 1, “Name That Simple Machine,” asks kids to match seesaw, flagpole rope, door knob/wheel, ramp, axe blade, and jar-lid threads to lever, pulley, wheel and axle, inclined plane, wedge, or screw. Page 2, “Design Challenge: Less Effort,” poses three compare-and-circle questions (short versus long ramp, one versus two pulleys, finger versus hammer) and then asks kids to sketch a machine that moves a heavy book onto a shelf. Answer notes point to the long gentle ramp, two-pulley system, and hammer/lever as lower-effort choices, and accept ramp, lever, or pulley ideas for the sketch. The pack bridges everyday physics with short design thinking—not a textbook chapter. Print both pages for a label-then-design sitting in a makerspace warm-up or home STEM hour. Materials for optional follow-up builds (cardboard, string) are suggested by the sketch prompt only; the download itself is these two worksheets.
Designed for families and classrooms. Checkout runs through Paddle. After payment, you can download the print-ready PDF pack (2 letter-size pages) from the success page.
