A cartoon shows a male teacher wearing a tie in a classroom. He stands next to a TV. Behind him, a green board reads "Simple Machines."

The Teacher clears his throat and says UH NOW FOR A LESSON
THAT WILL
TEACH US ABOUT
SIMPLE MACHINES.
FORGET THOSE
COMPUTERS,
WELL EXCEPT
WHEN YOU NEED THEM.
ACTUALLY WE'RE
GONNA USE THEM
LATER
WHEN WE UH -
I THINK I LOST MY
WAY HERE.
MAYBE WE
SHOULD JUST WATCH
A VIDEO ON THE
MACHINES
THAT
STARTED MACHINES.

He turns on the TV and clip shows devices and machines on a time line.

A song plays LONG LONG AGO BUT
NOT FAR AWAY
BEFORE
CARS AND PHONES
AND COMPUTER
SCREENS PEOPLE
NEEDED HELP TO
DO THEIR WORK
SO THEY INVENTED
SIMPLE MACHINES
A WHEEL COMBINED
WITH A ROD
CALLED
AN AXLE
TOGETHER MAKES
THE WHEEL
GO ROUND
AND ROUND
IT CAN HELP YOU GET
FROM PLACE TO PLACE
AND MOVE HEAVY THINGS
ALONG THE GROUND
AN INCLINED PLANE IN
CASE YOU DIDN'T KNOW
IS A SIMPLE MACHINE
THAT HAS A SLANT
IT CAN HELP YOU GO
FROM LOW TO HIGH
OR HIGH
TO LOW
IT'S A USEFUL
RAMP

Two dogs use the devices mentioned in funny ways.

The song continues A PULLEY
CONSISTS OF A WHEEL
AND A ROPE
AND TOGETHER
THEY CAN MAKE THINGS
GO HIGHER
YOU NEED TO PULL ON
IT SO IT WILL WORK
AND HEAVY THINGS WILL
FEEL MUCH LIGHTER
A LEVER CONSISTS
OF TWO THINGS
A BAR
THAT MOVES
AND A FULCRUM
THAT STAYS
WHEN YOU APPLY
FORCE TO ONE SIDE
THE OTHER SIDE GOES
THE OPPOSITE WAY

The song ends.

The Teacher says WOW!
WHO KNEW THAT ALL
THE COMPUTERS
AND AMAZING
MACHINES WE USE NOW
STARTED SO
SIMPLY?
I GUESS THERE'S
ALWAYS ROOM TO IMPROVE -
OH, THAT REMINDS
ME.
WHY DID THE
COMPUTER START
WEARING GLASSES?
TO IMPROVE ITS
WEBSITE!
THAT WAS A, THAT
WAS A GOOD ONE, RIGHT?

The Class says YAY...

He continues OKAY,
TONIGHT'S HOMEWORK:
TRY INVENTING A
SIMPLE MACHINE.
IF THAT'S TOO
HARD REINVENT ONE.
MAYBE THE
WHEEL?

[Bell ringing]

The TVO Kids logo appears.

Copyright 2013, The Ontario Educational Communications Authority.