Simple Machines Station Lab - MS

This modular, student-led activity is the perfect way to keep your middle school students engaged while exploring force and motion. With everything included, you’ll save a ton of prep time while giving students the opportunity to take ownership of their learning.

In this interactive lab, students will investigate how inclined planes and pulleys can be used to change the amount of force needed to move an object. Designed for flexibility, it’s ready for both in-class and virtual learning.

Texas Teachers: This resource aligns with the 2017 TEKS (not updated for the 2021 TEKS).

Differentiated, Modular, and Student-Centered

Each lab includes eight core stations plus a bonus challenge station, ensuring a personalized experience for every learner. Teachers act as facilitators while students work independently or in small groups to explore and apply new concepts.

All signage, readings, task cards, and resources are included. The Explore It! station may require a few simple materials you already have on hand.

The Stations

Input Stations – Build Understanding

• Explore It! – Hands-on demo or digital drag-and-drop in PowerPoint/Google Slides

• Read It! – Differentiated passages (English & Spanish) with comprehension and vocabulary checks

• Research It! – Website-based tasks with images and guiding questions

• Watch It! – Short video with reflection prompts

Output Stations – Show Understanding

• Organize It! – Printable or digital card sorts/manipulatives

• Illustrate It! – Sketches or models for visual reinforcement

• Write It! – Short-answer prompts requiring complete sentences

• Assess It! – Task cards + vocabulary-in-context writing activity

Bonus Station – Challenge It!
Perfect for early finishers and advanced learners with crosswords, games, and mini-projects

Flexible for Any Classroom

Station labs are fully compatible with PowerPoint and Google Slides, making them simple to use in both campus and virtual learning environments.

Why Teachers Love It:

• Differentiated for a wide range of learners

• Multimodal to keep students engaged

• Flexible for print or digital use

• Minimal prep, maximum impact

This station lab is also included in the Simple Machines 5E Lesson Plan, which expands into editable presentations, interactive notebooks, projects, assessments, and more.

This is a finished product; it will be updated with formatting or corrections as needed. Future improvements and new features will be sold as a separate product.