Students explore building a pyramid, learning about the simple machine called an inclined plane. They also learn about another simple machine, the screw, and how it is used as a lifting or fastening device. During a hands-on activity, students see how the angle of inclination and pull force can make it easier (or harder) to pull an object up an inclined plane.

This resources is part of Tools4NCTeachers.A Number Talk is a brief routine (about 10 minutes) focused around developing flexibility and fluency with numbers. Through regular opportunities to work with dot images and expressions, students develop an understanding of number relationships and structure. This supports the development of early fluency skills.This PowerPoint contains presentation slides for daily Number Talks, as well as directions and videos for implementation. Teachers may facilitate the Number Talks on these slides, or use them to inspire their own Number Talks based on student need.

Students use inclined planes as they recreate the difficult task of raising a monolith of rock to build a pyramid. They compare the push and pull of different-sized blocks up an inclined plane, determine the angle of inclination, and learn the changes that happen when the angle is increased or decreased.