Mei's Simple Machines

Mei's Simple Machines

by

Patches the Story Dog

Patches the Story Dog

for your 1st Grader

1st Grader Simple Machines Science

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Mei sits on a wooden bench in a bright, sunny schoolyard, her sketchbook open on her lap, a pencil in her hand, smiling as she draws. Around her are colorful playground equipment — seesaws, swings, and a tall flagpole. In the background, a bright schoolyard with blue sky, green grass, and colorful playground equipment.

Mei loved to draw. She drew birds. She drew clouds. She drew her shoes and her lunch box and the cracks in the sidewalk. Mei's sketchbook went everywhere she went.

Mei stands near the seesaw, watching with wide, curious eyes and holding her sketchbook, as two children ride the seesaw — one going up and one pushing down — on the bright schoolyard grass. In the background, green grass and a chain-link fence with a sunny sky.

At recess, Mei sat on her favorite bench. She watched her friends run and play. Then she saw something that made her think. Her friend sat on one end of the seesaw. Another friend pushed down on the other end — and WHOOSH — the first friend went up!

Mei's sketchbook lies open showing a detailed pencil drawing of a seesaw with an arrow pointing down on one side and an arrow pointing up on the other, and the word LEVER written in big letters beneath it. In the background, the wooden bench and green grass of the schoolyard, slightly blurred.

"How did that happen?" Mei whispered. She looked closely. The seesaw was like a long board on a point in the middle. When one side went down, the other side went up. Push down here, lift up there! Mei opened her sketchbook and drew the seesaw. She wrote a word next to it: LEVER.

Mei stands near the tall flagpole, looking up in wonder with her sketchbook tucked under her arm, as a teacher pulls the flagpole rope downward and a bright flag rises toward the top where a small pulley wheel is visible. In the background, the bright blue sky with fluffy white clouds and the top of the school building.

Then Mei heard a sound — clink, clink, clink. She looked up at the tall flagpole. A teacher was pulling a rope down, and the flag was going up! The rope went over a little wheel at the top of the pole. Pull down on the rope, and the flag goes up. It was like magic — but it wasn't magic at all.

Mei sits cross-legged on the grass, her sketchbook open on her knees, carefully drawing a picture of the flagpole with its rope and pulley. Her face shows a big, proud smile. In the background, the tall flagpole with its flag waving and the sunny schoolyard.

Mei sat down and drew the flagpole and the rope. She drew the little wheel at the top where the rope looped over. She wrote a new word: PULLEY. "A pulley helps you lift things up by pulling down," Mei said to herself. She smiled. She was finding cool stuff everywhere!

Mei watches with wide eyes and an open mouth, sketchbook in hand, as a young child zooms past her pulling the big red wagon loaded with playground balls and jump ropes. The wagon's four big red wheels roll across the green grass. In the background, the schoolyard with playground equipment and a bright sunny sky.

Just then, her friend zoomed past pulling a big red wagon. It was full of balls and jump ropes, but her friend pulled it easily across the grass. The wagon had four big, round wheels. The wheels rolled and rolled, and the heavy load moved with just a small pull. Mei's eyes got wide.

Mei holds up her open sketchbook toward the viewer, showing three labeled drawings on the pages: a seesaw labeled LEVER, a flagpole with rope labeled PULLEY, and a wagon labeled WHEEL AND AXLE. Mei peeks over the top of the sketchbook with a delighted expression. In the background, the colorful schoolyard playground with seesaws and swings.

Mei drew the wagon and its round wheels. She wrote another word: WHEEL AND AXLE. "Wheels make it easy to move heavy things," Mei said. "You don't have to carry them. You just roll them!" She flipped through her sketchbook. Lever. Pulley. Wheel and Axle. Three simple machines — right here at recess!

Two children push hard against the big heavy toy box on the schoolyard pavement, straining with effort, while Mei and several other children stand nearby watching. The teacher stands behind the toy box looking concerned. In the background, the school building with its front doors and a covered walkway.

RIIING! The bell rang. Recess was over. A teacher brought out a big, heavy box of toys that needed to go back to the classroom. "Can someone help move this?" the teacher asked. Two friends tried to push the box. They pushed and pushed. But the box was SO heavy. It would not budge.

Mei stands in the middle of a group of children, her sketchbook open in her hands, her eyes bright and one finger raised in the air as if she just had a great idea. The big heavy toy box sits on the ground nearby. In the background, the school building entrance and the sunny schoolyard.

"We can't do it!" one friend said. "It's too heavy!" said another. Mei looked at the big box. Then she looked down at her sketchbook. She flipped to the page with the lever. She flipped to the pulley. She flipped to the wheel and axle. And then — Mei had an idea! A BIG idea!

Mei directs her friends as they push the big heavy toy box up a long wooden board used as a ramp leaning against the big red wagon. Mei stands to the side pointing and smiling, while three children push the box up the ramp together. In the background, the schoolyard pavement and the school building entrance.

"We can use simple machines!" Mei said. "First, let's get the wagon. Wheels will help us roll the box!" Her friends brought the big red wagon. They tilted a long board against the wagon like a ramp. "This board is like a lever," Mei explained. "It will help us push the box up." They all pushed together, and the box slid right up the ramp and into the wagon!

Mei and her friends work together at the school entrance — some children pull down on a jump rope looped over a hook above the doorway while others guide the big heavy toy box up the steps. Mei stands at the top of the steps cheering with both arms raised. In the background, the open school doors and the hallway just inside.

But there were three big steps at the door! "Now we need a pulley!" said Mei. They looped a jump rope over a strong hook above the door. One group pulled the rope down while the other group guided the box up the steps. Pull down, lift up — just like the flag! The box went up and through the door. "We did it!" everyone cheered.

Mei sits at a classroom desk with her sketchbook open, drawing a big colorful picture of all her friends using the wagon, ramp, and rope to move the toy box. She has a warm, proud smile on her face. Around her desk, a few friends peek over her shoulder at the drawing. In the background, a bright classroom with bookshelves, a chalkboard, and colorful posters on the walls.

Back in the classroom, Mei opened her sketchbook one more time. She drew all her friends working together. She drew the wagon, the ramp, and the rope. Underneath, she wrote: "Simple machines are everywhere. They help us push, pull, lift, and roll. And when we work together, we can move anything!" Mei closed her book and smiled. What a great recess.

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