Talking and Listening

Machines

Activity 1

Talking and Listening

Students complete a P3T on Machines.

Activity 2

Cross Curricula

Hand a group the “Machinations Magic Box” (a collection of mousetraps, rubber bands, wheels, scissors, glue, string and paddle pop sticks) Students work together to complete a design brief that includes drawing up a labelled design plan for a vehicle that will move one metre. The group has to create a logo and slogan that could help sell your vehicle. Present to audience.

Activity 3

Thinking skills – partner task

Complete a PMI on one of the following; Gameboys, Cars, Microwaves

PLUS / MINUS / INTERESTING

Activity Four

Cross Curricula

View an episode of The New Inventors. Write a report with labelled diagrams of the inventions shown. Rank these in order from 1-3 (1 being the best) and give your reasons.

Inventions Shown Inventions

Activity Four

Bar a letterbox

Ideas Boxes

Bigger

Add

Replace

Activity Five

Independent Reading What makes a good information book?

Choose three different information books about machines. Create a judging criteria (no more than 10) of what makes a good information book. Apply the criteria to the three books. Judge which book is the most informative and give reasons for your choice.

Criteria / Book 1 / Book 2 / Book 3
Title / Title / Title

Activity Six

Independent Writing

Write and illustrate a picture book for younger readers about an inventor whose new invention did not turn out the way it was expected to be. NB. Honey I Shrunk the Kids

Storyboard

Activity Seven

Thinking Skills

Design a machine for the next century that could improve communication.

Ideas box

Activity Eight

Talking and listening – partner task

What would the world be like if one of the common everyday machines had not been invented. List three machines you regularly use. List the impact on your life if they disappeared immediately.

Activity Nine

Reading Activities

Using the Fishbone diagram and research an inventor who changed the world.

ADD FISHBONE DIAGRAM

Activity Ten

Visual Literacy – group

View television advertisement. Use Six Hat Thinking to review and discuss ad.

ADD PAGES – SIX THINKING HATS

Activity Ten

Concluding Activity

Believe it or not, Webster’s Dictionary defines the thingamajig as a synonym for thingamabob! The definition given for thingamabob is only a little more helpful: ”any device; a contrivance; a gadget”…you know what they mean-sort of-well…a thingamajig! Perhaps this poem might help;

Thingamajig

What on earth is a thingamajig?

Small and blue? Red and big?

Can you use it on Mondays to brush your teeth?

Is it made of cardboard with springs underneath?

Did you see someone use one while painting a wall?

Was it made from balloons and a squashed rubber ball?

A thingamajig could be heavy or light,

Something to use to make the world bright.

A tiny contraption to catch a grey mouse,

Or an elephant scrubber as big as a house.

Make it from any old junk that you can find;

A thingamajig grows in your mind!

Imagine the wildest thingamajig ever – collect some odds and ends and build it. Give it a purpose-what does it do? Create an ad to sell your thingamajig. This can be a radio, print or television advertisement.