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Year 4

Reverse motion levers and linkages

I can make reverse motion linkages.

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New
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Year 4

Reverse motion levers and linkages

I can make reverse motion linkages.

Download all resources
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Share activities with pupils
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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Levers are rigid bars that create movement by turning on a pivot point.
  2. Linkages are systems that create movement using one or more levers.
  3. Reverse motion linkages use a fixed pivot to change the direction of input so that the output goes the opposite way.
  4. Making a reverse motion linkage can help with understanding its features and movement.

Keywords

  • Mechanism - a set of moving parts that make something happen

  • Lever - a mechanism which creates movement

  • Pivot point - a point around which an object moves or rotates

  • Linkage - a mechanism connecting levers together

  • Reverse motion linkage - a linkage that creates movement in opposite directions

Common misconception

Levers are always used to make things move easier.

Some levers are designed to to move things faster or further, a pair of tweezers for example.


To help you plan your year 4 design and technology lesson on: Reverse motion levers and linkages, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Print the linkage worksheet straight onto card if possible. The linkages can work using paper but are more effective using card. Save card by using cereal boxes (that had not contained nuts) as a back drop. This is a prototype for the children and a cereal box is perfect for this task.
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Equipment

Please see the additional materials for the equipment and resources.

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Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - may contain allergens
  • Risk assessment required - equipment
supervision-level

Supervision

Adult supervision required

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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What does rigid mean?
Hard to lever
Correct answer: Hard to bend
Hard to slide
Q2.
A see-saw usually creates the following type of movement:
Round and up
Round and down
Correct answer: Up and down
Q3.
What is a mechanism?
Correct answer: A set of connected moving parts that make something happen.
A set of connected parts that do not move.
A set of unconnected parts that do not move.
Q4.
Which part of a wheelbarrow is the fulcrum?
Handle
Barrow
Correct answer: Wheel
Q5.
Where on a see-saw do you usually see a fulcrum?
On top and in the middle of the rigid bar.
Correct answer: Under and in the middle of the rigid bar.
On top and on the end of the rigid bar.
Under and on the end of the rigid bar.
Q6.
Where would you find the fulcrum on a pair of scissors?
Handle
Middle
End of the blade

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
On a lever, the fulcrum is ...
the point where the lever is weakest.
Correct answer: the point the lever pivots on.
the point where force is applied to the lever.
Q2.
The force we use to make the lever work is called ...
the load.
Correct answer: the effort.
the fulcrum.
Q3.
Which of these is a class two lever?
Correct answer: Wheelbarrow
Tweezers
Scissors
Q4.
A reverse motion linkage uses ...
one fixed pivot and one moving pivot.
Correct answer: one fixed pivot and two moving pivots.
two fixed pivots and one moving pivot.
two fixed pivots and two moving pivots.
Q5.
Which of the following were used as pivots in the making activity?
Card
Correct answer: Split pins
Scissors
Pencils
Q6.
What is the movement that affects the output of a mechanism?
Correct Answer: The input, Input

Additional material

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