Lego Gear Trains

After we dissected wind-up toys we built gear trains with lego pieces. We learned about drivers, idlers, and followers. We also made observations about gear speed and gear direction. Here is a picture of a gear train example.
Here is the Lego Education Site where you can view gears in action.
Lego Constructopedia
Check out this cool book on gears and simple machines.
The Lego Technic Idea Book:Simple Machines

Wind-up Toy Engineering

The fifth grade classes became doctors! We all chose a wind-up toy to disect. Then we got all of our doctor gadgets and took apart our patients. The monkey one was really hard but we did save him and put him back together. It was really fun since we got to see what was in a wind -up toy. I hope the next fith grade class really enjoys this project. Right here from your fifth grade enrichment class.