Each of the large pieces of equipment used in agriculture is made up of a collection of simple machines: inclined plane, wheel and axle, wedge, screw, lever and pulley. See Simple machines for a description and diagram of each of the simple machines.

• Through observation, classify the farm machines or implements into the six categories of simple machines. Add items used at school or at home to the chart. Some may fit into more than one category.
• Examples of the application of simple machines that you might consider include:
  a clothesline, a grain auger, a meat grinder, a steering wheel, a ramp, a pizza cutter, stairs, scissors, a flag pole, a combine, an ax, a pencil sharpener, a wheelbarrow, a slide, a plough, a see saw, a drapery draw, a jar lid, a door knob, a tractor.