In this pulley experiment you will get a chance to make your very own pulley system. This pulley experiments is such a fun science project to teach children about simple machines for kids  and to learn to enjoy engineering their own solutions. Use this simple machines for kids project with preschool, pre-k, kindergarten, first grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 4th grade, and 5th graders. We will show you how to make a pulley for kids with a hands-on STEM activity for kids of all ages!
Pulley Experiment
In our age of complicated machinery, it’s easy to forget that even the most complicated mechanics are just a large set of simple machines. We use complicated machines for parts of our lives, and too often push through tasks when a little bit of ingenuity would make the task much easier. Pulleys can be used to make various types of elevators, or in converting fly wheels to useful energy as in an old fashioned mill. This simple pulley expeirment is a great hands-on simple machines for kids to help kids understand how pulleys work to make things easier! This fun pulley experiments will be done by making simple machines with household items!
Pulley Experiments
Whether you are a parent, teacher, or homeschooler – this pulley science project is fun and easy to learn about simple machines for kids. Use it cooperatively with other students or make it as a family. This pulley system experiment is a simple science project for kids of all ages to design and understand the workings of pulley for kids.
How to Make a Pulley for Kids
Why pulley’s work
Pulley’s are used to redirect the the tension in cord of some kind . By allowing the work to be done in the same direction as gravity, They pulley allows an object to be lifted with less force. Every pivot point exerts upward force on the system, again decreasing the amount of force needed. Of course, all this decrease in force comes at a cost. Each pulley also increases the distance over which the force will need to be applied. These are all lessons your child can figure out for himself with his own pulley system.
Pulley science project
All you need are a few simple materials you can find in your home or recycling bins to try this pulley experiments 5th grade for making your own pulley:
- Large box or sheet of cardboard.
- Cans of two different sizes from the recycle bin
- Yarn or rope
- A bottle of water
- Small bucket
- Weights. I used our Picasso Tiles, but any object would work. Rocks or Silver wear could be good solutions as well.
- Hot glue
Pulley experiment for kids
If you are working with older students, allow them to set up their own by gluing the cans in what they think may be optimal positions. If you are working with younger students, teach them how to make a pulley by gluing the small cans in a couple of rows so that they can experiment by hooking up their pulley in various ways. Place the larger cans over the smaller cans to make a pulley that turns easily.
Pulley experiment at home
Attach one end of the string to the bucket, and the other to the bottle off water.
Tell your child to draw a picture of your pulleys. In two different colors draw two different ways that the string could be looped through the pulleys. Write a paragraph explaining which set up will move more easily and why.
Loop the string over the pulleys
Add weights until the bottle of water moves. (Hint: Only fill the bottle half way for easier lifting.)
Try a different configuration and repeat.
After your child has experimented with a few different set ups of this pulley science experiment, ask them to write a paragraph explaining how using more or less pulleys changes the force needed to lift something. Ask them to explain how the spatial relation of the pulleys changes things.
Pulley project for grade 4
If your child is ready for more of a challenge with this simple pulley experiment, ask him or her to engineer a system which uses pulleys and another simple machine such as a lever or zipline to move a cup of water from one point to another.
Can he or she think of an easier way to refill water glasses at the dinner table? Maybe when you’re outside for a picnic? What task can your inventor make easier with pulleys?
 
 
Simple machines for kids
- Inclined Planes for kids – explanation, activities, and resources
- Wheel and Axle for kids lesson with projects and other fun ideas
- Gears for Kids filled with lots of hands on activities
- Wedges and Screw Simple Machine Lesson for children
- Levers and Pulleys lesson for students
- I Spy simple machines for kids
- MATCH – Simple Machines Game
- 30 Simple Machines for Kids Projects
- Free Simple Machines Worksheet to fold into a clever booklet
- Candy Simple Machines Project
- Pulley Experiment from recycled materials
 
Fun Science Experiments
- 30 Simple Machines for Kids Experiments
- Launch this experiment and record your findings with this Coke and mentos experiment worksheet
- Lots of FUN Solar System Project Ideas for kids
- Printable Solar System Worksheets (free) or planet worksheets for kindergarten
- Grab these free printable solar system coloring pages
- Life-size Human Body Project with free printable body parts
- Colorful Capillary action science experiment (also known as walking water)
- 100 Amazing Food science experiments – arranged by type of science
- Free Printable Human Body for Kids Playdough Mats
- Leak proof bag fun science experiments
- Older students can dive deeper with these free skeletal system worksheet pages
- Amazing Why do leaves change color experiment
- Learn about seasons with this cool free 4 seasons printables
- Animals and their Babies matching puzzles
- Take a closer look at animals with this free printable animal report for for kids
 
Science Exeriments for Kids
Looking for lots more fun, science experiments for kids? You’ve GOT to try some of these outrageously fun science experiments for kids! We have so many fun, creative and easy science experiments for elementary age children:
- How to Make a Lava Lamp – super easy and SO cool!
- Weather Unit for prek-3rd graders filled with experiments, activities and weather worksheets
- Make it rain and write your observations in these cloud in a jar experiment worksheet
- Learn about our moon with these activities and moon worksheets for 1st grade
- Free Water Cycle Worksheets for kids
- Discover a world of geology with these rock worksheets for kids
- Free printable states of matter activity with clip cards
- Discover what lies below the surface with these free Layers of Earth Worksheets
- Make playdough earth layers with this super cool geology experiment for kids
- LOTS of year-round Science Experiments for Kids
- Kids will love this outrageously fun pipe clean constellations activity
- This look inside a volcano experiment for kids takes learning to a whole new level
- Chromatography Butterflies project for kids
- Learn about the kingdom Animalia with over 20 Zoo Scavenger Hunt free printables
- Harness the power of fruit with this simple Lemon Clock for kids
- Easy Bernoulli’s principle experiment at home
- Amaze kids with this simple burning candle experiment with free worksheets
Easy Science Experiments
- Gross and so cool Digestive System Project for kids of all ages
- Amazing Rainbow in a Jar Experiment for Kids
- Epic Baking Soda and Vinegar Rocket Experiment
- Cool Milk and Vinegar Expeirment making plastic!
- Learn about your amazing brain with this activity and brain worksheets
- How do hands work project for kids
- Super cool and easy-to-make, working lego balloon car
- Plants for kids lesson
- Explore magnets with these EPIC magnet experiments for kids
- Popsicle Stick Catapult for kids – simple STEM project
- Simple light bulb experiment (it actually lights up!)
- Easy-to-make balloon hoovercraft
- Bouncy Eggs and eggs in vinegar experiment worksheet
- Learn about density for kids with these simple balloon solid, liquid, gas hands-on activities
- Create your own super simple bot
- Beautiful, color changing capillary action experiment with flowers
- WOW your kids with how to make a Newton’s cradle project
- Heat-sensitive, Color Changing Slime is SO COOL!
Human Body Activities
- Parts of the Brain for Kids Activity with Playdough Brain Model & Free Brain Worksheets for Kids
- Lungs for Kids Working Model and lesson plan
- Human Heart for Kids: 2 Fun Heart Models plus Worksheets
- Blood for Kids – Actiivty to learn about the Human Body
- Grab this free printable 5 senses preschool printables to explore the senses of sight, taste, sound, smell, and touch
- Human Body human body playdough mats – lots of choices to learn about various systems of the body including simple for preschoolers, skeletal system, organs, muscles, nerves, and more!
- Teach kids about human cells for kids with hands on activities, free printable reader, human cell worksheets, and more!
- Human Body Printables makes a printable book that teaches students all about their heart, brain, muscles, cells, skin, bones, lungs, stomach, intestines, and bladder
- 4 EPIC Skeletal System Project ideas for kids – using things like pasta, life saver gummies, lego, and more you can learn about the human body in a fun memorable way
- Free Skeletal System Worksheets for Kids – everything you need to teach kids about their bodies!
- Kids will love learning about the ear with this model of ear for school project
- Amazing 5 Senses for kids lesson to explore with hands on activities, videos, books, and more!
- Try this Jelly Bean sense of taste activities for preschool experiment.
- Kids will be amazed by these eye science experiments
- Huge pack of 5 Senses Worksheets to explore the senses and sneak in some math and literacy activities too
- EPIC, Life-size Human Body Project
- See all of our hands-on ideas to make learning about the human body for kids FUN and more creative printable science experiments for all ages
what a great experiment! I just love it
I am going to use this for my highschool simple machines science fair! I was looking all over, and then I saw this, and I’m totally doing it!