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Lesson 1: Seesaws

Understanding that a seesaw is a simple lever with a pivot.
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Learning objective

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Before the lesson

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Lesson plan

1. Recap and recall

Before starting this unit, check that the children can recall:

  • A mechanism is a set of parts that move together to make something happen.

  • A slider is a mechanism that moves in a straight line in one direction.

  • Many things have parts inside them that help them work.

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In this unit

Assessment – D&T Y2: Mechanisms: Levers
Lesson 1: Seesaws
Lesson 2: Levers in actionLesson 3: ScissorsLesson 4: Two levers togetherLesson 5: Everyday levers
Created by:
Kapow Primary Team
Kapow Primary Team
Our team comprises experienced classroom teachers who love the foundation subjectsFind out more
Maintained by: Kapow Primary teamLast update: 27 March 2026

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