The wheel and axle are an an example of a simple machine. Other examples of simple machines include the wedge, lever, pully, screw, and inclined plane. However, for this challenge, we are only going to focus on the wheel and axle. 

1. Watch this video to learn about the wheel and axle.

2. Use the worksheets below to review the parts of a wheel and axle, and examples of how they help us do work. It is helpful to have a table with lots of examples youth and interact with.

3. Complete the scavenger hunt to see how many wheel and axles you can find in the Rube Goldberg Machine. 

Print & Copy for each Youth to Study

Print this to set up a 

Skill-A-Thon Station

Now that youth know a little more about the wheel and axle, try a scavenger hunt. There are two options:

1. Give teams of 2-3 youth 10 minutes to find as many wheels and axles as they can within a given area (meeting room, building, or outside area). Be sure to clearly delineate the boundaries, and position some adult volunteers to make sure no one ventures further than they should.

2. Watch the video to the left of a Rube Goldberg Machine. These machines are made of up of many different types of simple machines. As the video plays, ask youth to count how many wheels and axles they see.