LESSON PLAN TEMPLATE Fall 2019

LESSON PLAN
Grade: 4 Lesson Title: Fixed Pulley Lesson Duration (mins): 1 class (40 mins)

Overview of lesson
The students have completed their mid unit exam. They still have their mini unit booklet from the beginning of the unit. .
The students will now learn about the “Fixed Pulley” that is involved in one of three main types of pulleys. This is the
introductory part of the pulley section of this unit as it is used to introduce to students how pulley work in our everyday
life. The purpose of this lesson is to explain and teach what a pulley is and what it does. As the lesson goes on, we will start
discussing three different types of pulleys. This lesson plan will be used strictly on the fixed pulleys which is the first type of
pulley out of the three. Students learn about basic components of pulleys like how it needs to apply force but at the same
time, the pulley always stays in the same place. Students explore different techniques that can be used for pulleys. In this
fixed pulley system, you pull down on one side of the rope and the other side goes up. You use the same amount of force
to pull down as you would to lift the toy yourself. However, you have changed the direction of the force. A fixed pulley is
useful because when you pull down, you can use your body’s own weight to add to the push. Students will learn this. This
lesson is connected to the POS because students will gain knowledge in practical understanding of pulleys which is part of
the simple machines and how to construct one.
Alberta Program of Study:
GLO /GLE - SLO/SLE –
4-6 - Demonstrate a practical understanding of - Construct devices that use wheels and axles, and demonstrate
wheels, gears and levers by constructing devices in and describe their use in:
which energy is transferred to produce motion. • model vehicles
• pulley systems
• Gear systems.
- Construct and explain the operation of a drive system that uses
one or more of the following:
• wheel-to-wheel contact
• a belt or elastic
• a chain
• Cogs or gears.

Learning Objectives
Students will…
 Understand what a pulley is and how it would help an engineer to build something
 Identify that a pulley is a type of a simple machines.
 Generate and compare multiple possible solutions to creating a simple lever machine based on how well each met the
constraints of the challenge
 Define the following terms: fixed pulleys, input force, and mechanical advantage.
 Use prior knowledge of pulleys.

Learning Resources List

Resource #1: “Fixed Pulley” Worksheet
Resource #2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMx7nIIH9ik&feature=youtu.be
Resource #3: Mini Textbook
Resource #4: Physical Pulley made out of rope and a fake wheel and axle ( lifted a full box of crayons)

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Material and Equipment
- Pencils
- Erasers
- Online Smart Board
- Rope
- Plastic wheel and axle
- Box full of crayons
- White Boards

Lesson Procedures

Introduction (13 min) :

Countdown Attention Grabber (5, 4, 3, 2, 1) (Less than a minute)
- Students are expected to quiet down in their seats and listen to the teacher’s instruction.
Expectations for Learning and Behavior (1 min)
Throughout the lesson, if needed, students will be reminded of learning and behavior expectations for this lesson. These
expectations include:
- Inside voices
- Try your best (quality of work)
- Stay focused on your assignment
- Respect the work of your classmates
- Ask for help when you need it
- Take advantage of having peers to work with (when allowed to work collaboratively)

Introduction of “ Fixed Pulleys” (4 mins):

 Students will be spoken to “We need to go over our rules, we are to remain quiet at all times during the teaching
part of the lesson, before we start, I need your full undivided attention so I can instruct you on what to do on your
worksheet, if we are not being quiet as a class, we cannot continue until we are completely silent with your eyes
up here looking at the board while I teach. We will be going over pulleys and there will be a worksheet involved
after this lesson is over.”
 Introduce “what is a pulley?” Youtube video

Body (20 min):

Steps and Procedures Identify Teaching Strategies:
- Students will be told to turn to page 13 in their mini
textbooks. Whole Group Discussion: During the body of the
- We will follow along page 13 and start with the introduction. I lesson, discuss together with students what they
would ask students some questions after reading the are learning and how to do things, make students
introduction paragraph: “Could someone put up their hand if ask questions so they know they are engaged in
the lesson and want to know more.
they remember what a pulley is?” (We discussed it in the first
few classes when we learned about the simple machines).
Direct instruction: There is a worksheet involved
- Students will now follow along on page 13. in the lesson where I will use direct instruction
- Students will receive the “Fixed Pulley” worksheet that I will where I will get the students to follow along with
hand out. me on the Smart Board during my explanation of
- I will tell students that they are allowed to talk but they are to the worksheet as well as their mini unit booklet
use inside voices only. I will explain that they are allowed to

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move around the classroom because they sat around through
a long video at the beginning of class. I will explain “if it
becomes too loud, in here, and I keep addressing you guys to
be quiet, I will shut down the talking and you will work
individually and in complete silence for the remainder of the
class.” Assessments
- Students have time to work on this activity, I will explain to Indicate what these will be and when you would
only cut the edges of the shape, then put it together and glue use them.
it on the sides. I will remind them that if they have questions
they must put their hand up sitting on their desk. (15-17 Formative: Pre-Lesson Assessment
- I will use the Mini Textbook page 13 to introduce and discuss
what a pulley and what a fixed pulley is one by one, students - Know / Want to Know / Learn (KWL)
will use their worksheets and resource worksheet to fill out Chart: On a large sheet of paper, (one
and finish each worksheet. This Mini booklet presentation each student) I will draw a chart with the
within the smartboard is used to promote an inquiry-based title "What is a Pulley?" I will draw and
style; each point in the worksheet reveals a new point a explain to the students to do the same,
pulley. three columns titled, K, W and L,
- I will use classroom helper to hand out both the worksheet representing what students know about
and information sheet about pulleys so students can start pulleys, what they want to know about
working on them. (2 mins) pulleys and what they learned about
- I will give students 8-10 minutes depending how much time is pulleys. Students will fill out the K and W
left in class. sections during the lesson introduction as
- With 5 minutes left in class, I will re-introduce the KWL chart facts and questions emerge.
and students will fill out the L column to finish the lesson. Post-Introduction Assessment

 Pulley: Changes the direction of a force. Reference Sheet: This is the worksheet that will
be handed out at the beginning of the
introduction that students will use to follow along
the presentation.

Lesson Summary Assessment

Closing Discussion: Conduct an informal class
discussion, asking the students what they learned
from the activities. (See Closure section for
details)

KWL Chart (Conclusion): As a class, finish column

L of the KWL Chart as described in the Pre-Lesson
Assessment section. Students will hand in the
KWL chart at the end of the second class.

Summative Assessment: Unit exam at the end of

unit, small quizzes.

Consolidating and Closure: (5 mins) To finish the lesson, at this point, we have discussed the introduction of
pulleys and what a fixed pulley is.

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Formative assessment: Closing discussion (see assessment section): Who can put their hand up and explain
what a fixed pulley is? (Answer: you pull down on one side of the rope and the other side goes up. You use
the same amount of force to pull down as you would to lift the toy yourself. However, you have changed
the direction of the force. A fixed pulley is useful because when you pull down, you can use your body’s
own weight to add to the push. Why do engineers use simple machines such as pulleys? (Possible answers:
Engineers creatively use their knowledge of science and math to make our lives better, often using simple
machines. They invent tools that make work easier. They accomplish huge tasks that could not be done
without the mechanical advantage of simple machines such as pulleys. Tonight, at home, think about
everyday examples of pulleys. See how many you can think of that are around out community!

Complete the KWL Assessment Chart (see the Assessment section): Complete the L part, what they
learned throughout the lesson.

Before they go, I will end the class by saying: “You guys did a great job of listening and paying attention. I
barely had an issue with loud noises in the classroom. Thank you very much” OR “You guys need to do
better next time (the following day) because I asked for total attention and you did not give me part of it or
any at all. We will try again tomorrow” depending on how they did.

Once they are done cleaning up and ready to do, I will remind them to stay in the spots, put away their
science and get ready for Social class.

Reflective Notes: To complete after lesson has been delivered.