Mechanisms: Levers
Investigating different types of levers and how they work in everyday mechanisms.
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Mechanisms: Levers
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Unit outcomes
Pupils who are secure will be able to:
- Identify lever mechanisms and describe their movements.
- Find pivots and levers on various mechanisms.
- Join materials together to make levers.
- Investigate what happens when the pivot changes place.
- Select appropriate materials to use to make levers work effectively.
- Understand how levers can help make tasks easier.
- Test the effectiveness of their own levers.
- Evaluate their and others’ designs and give feedback.
Suggested prior learning
Mechanisms: Fairground wheel
Get startedLessons
Lesson 1: Seesaws
Lesson 2: Levers in action
Lesson 3: Scissors
Lesson 4: Two levers together
Lesson 5: Everyday levers
Key skills
Key knowledge
Equipment list
Equipment needed across all lessons in this unit.
This list does not include equipment which is usually readily available in the classroom (e.g pencils, A4 paper etc)
Full equipment list for the subject
Quantities marked × will update. Items without quantities are unaffected
- Rubbers
- Rulers ×30
- Pencils ×30
- Glue sticks ×30
- Card ×30
- Pre-cut card strips (thin and thick card) ×30
- A selection of Split pins
- Scissors right- and left-handed options recommended. ×30
- A selection of Sticky tack
- Colouring pencils ×30
- Felt tip pens ×30
-
Lollipop sticks (with pre-drilled holes)
- A selection of Pipe cleaners
- Corrugated card ×30
- Foil ×30
- PVA glue ×1
- Paper ×30
- Glue stick ×30
Equipment list
Quantities marked × will update. Items without quantities are unaffected
- Rubbers
- Rulers ×30
- Pencils ×30
- Glue sticks ×30
- Card ×30
- Pre-cut card strips (thin and thick card) ×30
- A selection of Split pins
- Scissors right- and left-handed options recommended. ×30
- A selection of Sticky tack
- Colouring pencils ×30
- Felt tip pens ×30
-
Lollipop sticks (with pre-drilled holes)
- A selection of Pipe cleaners
- Corrugated card ×30
- Foil ×30
- PVA glue ×1
- Paper ×30
- Glue stick ×30
Related content
Unit resources
Knowledge organiser – D&T Y2: Mechanisms: Levers
Aimed at pupils, a single page which gives key facts and definitions from the unit ‘Mechanisms: Levers'.
Vocabulary display – D&T Y2: Mechanisms: Levers
A display version of the vocabulary from the unit 'Mechanisms: Levers'.
Cross-curricular opportunities
Science: Working scientifically; Everyday materials; Uses of everyday materials.
Maths: Geometry – position and direction.
British values: Mutual respect.