🔧 Design & Technology: Levers and Linkages

This week in Year 5, we have been exploring mechanisms and finding out how simple mechanisms can help things move! ⚙️

The children learned that a lever is a rigid beam that can rotate around a fixed point called a fulcrum. We looked at how changing the position of the fulcrum can make it easier to move a load. 💪

We then explored linkages. A linkage is made by connecting two or more levers together. Linkages can be used to change the direction of a force or make two or more parts move at the same time.

🔄 Making things move!

We investigated different types of linkage, including:

🔹 Reverse motion linkages – where two parts move in opposite directions.

🔹 Push-pull linkages – where the output moves in the same direction as the input.

The children enjoyed identifying the levers, linkages, fixed pivots and loose pivots in different examples before designing and making their own mechanisms. ✂️📐

🛠️ Time to make!

The children then created their own moving mechanisms using card strips and split pins. They carefully followed the steps and experimented with how their mechanisms could create different types of movement.

📸 Take a look at some of our fantastic work below!

🎥 Watch our mechanisms in action!

It has been fantastic to see the children developing their understanding of how mechanisms work while being creative, practical and persistent in their learning. 🌟