Grade 4 PE Integration: Simple Machines

Possible integration that you may be interested in trying out. Obvious modifications can be made to suit your exact unit of inquiry.

Central Idea: Work is made easier when we transfer energy using machines

Most relevant line of inquiry: An inquiry into the relationship between force, effort, and distance.

A breakdown of possible lesson ideas:

Week One and Two:
As preassessment, the students will brainstorm a list of objects that can be used as striking tools in sport. The list can be made up of anything that can be used to strike a ball for power, distance, and accuracy.
Stations can be set up with a variety of hitting tools and different sized balls of varying styles.
In week one the students use the striking tools to try and hit for accuracy and in week two they use the same striking tools to hit for power and distance.

Weeks Two and Three
The students now narrow down which striking tool and which ball is best used to hit for power and distance and which striking tool and ball  is best used for accuracy.

Mid-Unit Assessment:
The students will identify by either written explanation or illustrations the striking apparatus they chose and the style of ball along with the reason how they feel energy was transferred and how and why the striking apparatus of their choice worked best.

Weeks Four-Six

Game introduction.

Modified Cricket
Students play short mini-games and explore reasons why the cricket bat is shaped the way it is and why the design is best in terms of energy transferred
Modified Baseball
Same as above
Modified Tennis, Ping Pong, or Badminton
Same as above

Week Six: Wrap up, Final Reflections, and Summative Assessment Task

Using what the students have learned during their unit of inquiry within the classroom, the students will show their understanding of the central idea and choose one of the following differentiated assessment tasks:

A) A diagram and explanation of different types of striking apparatus and how the body work together producing the transfer of energy
B) The students physically demonstrates and explains how the body and striking apparatus are connected in terms of producing the transfer of energy

All students also complete some type of written reflection that explains the improvements that they made in either skills development or knowledge gained related to how energy is transferred.

Do you have any other ideas???If so, please leave a comment!!