Gears, gears, gears

The authors use the 5E model with activities to help students understand gears and gear ratios. Through the use of inexpensive wind up toys, many available at Dollar Stores, students are ab... See More

The authors use the 5E model with activities to help students understand gears and gear ratios. Through the use of inexpensive wind up toys, many available at Dollar Stores, students are able to actively engage with how the toys move through gear and springs. I have used these activities with my middle school students and they are utterly fascinated with what they learn. After a couple of toys, my students were able to diagram the energy transfers.

Gears Are All Around Us

This is an excellent article containing a 5E lesson plan on gears. It gives a concise, yet detailed history of gears also. The lesson plan uses wind up toys that contain gears and are very... See More

This is an excellent article containing a 5E lesson plan on gears. It gives a concise, yet detailed history of gears also. The lesson plan uses wind up toys that contain gears and are very inexpensive. The lesson also incorporates the study of how each gear effects other gears when used in unison.