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Exploring how simple tools make it easier to move things.
Imagine you have a giant box of LEGOs that is too heavy to lift. How could you move it across the room using only a piece of string and some round logs?
Sometimes, our hands aren't enough to move something heavy. A pull is a force that moves an object closer to you. To help us pull, we use tools like ropes, strings, and handles. These tools give us a better 'grip.' Imagine trying to pull a heavy sled without a rope—it would be very hard to hold onto! A handle or a rope lets us use the strength of our whole body to move the object. If you have rope, you can stand far away and still pull the object toward your feet.
1. Look at a toy train car. 2. Notice the small hook or handle on the front. 3. Tie a small string to the handle. 4. Pull the string to move the train toward you easily without bending over!
Quick Check
What is one tool you can use to pull a heavy wagon?
Answer
A handle or a rope.
When you push something flat on the ground, it rubs against the floor. This rubbing is called friction, and it tries to stop things from moving! Wheels are amazing tools because they roll instead of slide. Rolling creates much less friction than sliding. This is why a box with wheels is much easier to push than a box with a flat bottom. When we push a wheeled tool, like a stroller or a cart, the wheels do the hard work of touching the floor for us.
1. Imagine a grocery cart full of heavy juice bottles. 2. If the cart had no wheels, you would have to push very hard to slide it. 3. Because the cart has round wheels, you only need a tiny push to make it glide across the floor!
Quick Check
Why does a toy car move easier than a square block?
Answer
Because the car has wheels that roll, which is easier than sliding.
To move the heaviest things, we can use a plan that combines tools! A wagon is a perfect tool because it has wheels for pushing/rolling and a handle for pulling. When you use a tool with wheels, you can move an object that weighs or times more than what you could carry in your arms. By choosing the right tool, you become a 'Super Mover'!
1. You have a heavy 'treasure chest' (a box of books). 2. Step 1: Place the chest on a skateboard (a tool with wheels). 3. Step 2: Tie a jump rope to the front of the skateboard (a tool for pulling). 4. Step 3: Use the rope to pull the chest while the wheels roll it across the room!
Which tool would help you PULL a heavy box?
Why are wheels helpful for moving heavy things?
A handle helps you get a better grip when you want to pull something.
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow, look around your kitchen. Can you find two things that have handles and one thing that has wheels?
Practice Activity
Try to move a pile of books across the floor by sliding them. Then, put them in a backpack and pull the straps. Which way felt easier?