Students learn about simple machines and paper making from Scotia-Glenville Children's Museum instructors

Instructors from the Scotia-Glenville Children's Museum visited the Marie Curie Institute recently to teach second-graders about simple machines and third-graders about making paper.

The lessons, held separately, took place in the school's new Exploration Lab and both tied into the school's engineering magnet theme.

Second-graders received a hands-on lesson about simple machines, such as inclined planes, pulleys, screws, wedges, and wheels and axles. Students were shown how the machines work and what purpose they serve in everyday life. Students made their own paper helicopters and got a chance to use some machines the instructors brought along.

Third-graders learned about the history of paper making, the current uses of paper and the importance of recycling. Students then got to make their own paper out of dried cornhusks, used paper and sawdust. Students took the pulp mixture (dried ingredients and water) and drained off the excess water, then molded the mixture into slurry cakes and pressed it onto a frame to remove the rest of the water, then dried it with an iron. Once the paper dried, students were then allowed to take their sheets home.

Students enjoyed the lesson and look forward to similar ones in the future.

To view a photo gallery of the simple machines lesson, click here.

To view a photo gallery of the pulp and paper lesson, click here.