We've just started a section on simple machines. My lad knows a bit about this already from a K'nex unit we did last year and from just talking and working around the house (using wheelbarrows, shovels, board ramps and the like). But now he's learning the language and the definitions.
We learned about Archimedes yesterday and how he was so instrumental in defending his city, using cranes, and battering rams against ships, using magnifying glasses and mirrors to light ships on fire, catapults and the like. My lad was MOST intrigued. He really wanted to figure out a way to make the cranes to lift up ships to destroy them but I couldn't figure out how to do that, so I had him make an Archimedes screw instead.
AND I took pictures but they disappeared... AND since I told my lad he was done for the day he wasn't willing to come back and work the screw again just so I could take pictures....
We used this video as visual assistance:
1. we shouldn't waste our cereal
2. rice would work easier
We changed the type of water bottle since "Mom, wouldn't a bigger or smoother water bottle be better? Then the screw part would fit in better right?" Since we had a smooth edge mid-sized bottle we used that and it did seem to work.