Day 133 - November 10, 2011

 Today we had the annual (and final) third grade simple machine fair.  The kids each have to  make a simple machine at home and then share it with the school and the parents.  They range anywhere from a simple ramp/incline plane

To a more elaborate roller coaster with a pulley system.

The kids definitely had fun and enjoyed learning about the force and load.  However, after a little confrontation from a parent about her child's grade on his project, let's just say that we are rethinking the whole simple machine fair idea.  That and the fact that simple machines really aren't even in our core curriculum are making us rethink this whole "parent project" idea.  Let's just say that some parents take the grade on their project quite seriously...