Free Printable Simple Machines Worksheets for Kids - Free Printable

This worksheet asks you to identify the simple machine shown in each picture. Simple machines are basic tools that make work easier. There are six main types: lever, wheel and axle, pulley, inclined plane, wedge, and screw. Some objects combine more than one simple machine (these are called compound machines), but we usually name them by their most obvious or main simple machine part.

Let’s go through each item one by one:

1. Bottle with cap – The cap twists on and off. This is a screw. A screw is an inclined plane wrapped around a cylinder. Even though it looks like just a lid, the threading inside makes it a screw.

2. Fan – The fan blades spin around a center point. This uses a wheel and axle. The motor turns the axle, which spins the blades (the “wheel” part).

3. Trowel (small shovel) – The blade is thin and pointed to dig into soil. This is a wedge. A wedge pushes things apart — like how the trowel splits dirt when you push it in.

4. Stapler – When you press down, the handle pivots on a pin to drive the staple. That’s a lever. Specifically, it’s a second-class lever: the load (staple) is between the fulcrum (pin) and the effort (your hand pressing down).

5. Bicycle – It has wheels that turn on axles, pedals that act as levers, and gears that use wheels and axles too. But the most obvious and important simple machine here is the wheel and axle — without it, the bike wouldn’t roll!

6. Ladder – It’s slanted against a wall. This is an inclined plane. An inclined plane lets you move up or down gradually instead of lifting straight up — like stairs or ramps.

7. Pulley system – This shows a rope going over a wheel with a hook at the bottom. That’s clearly a pulley. Pulleys help lift heavy things by changing the direction of force.

8. Light bulb – Wait — this is tricky! A light bulb itself isn’t a simple machine. But if we look closely, the base screws into the socket — so the threaded part is a screw, just like the bottle cap. However, some might argue it’s not really a machine since it doesn’t do mechanical work. But in school worksheets like this, they often count the screw base as the simple machine. So we’ll go with screw.

But let’s double-check #8: Is there any other interpretation? The glass part does nothing mechanically. The metal base has threads — yes, definitely a screw. So even though it’s not a tool, for this exercise, we classify it by its mechanical feature.

Now, let’s list all answers clearly:

- Bottle cap → Screw
- Fan → Wheel and Axle
- Trowel → Wedge
- Stapler → Lever
- Bicycle → Wheel and Axle
- Ladder → Inclined Plane
- Pulley → Pulley
- Light bulb → Screw

Wait — two screws? Yes, that’s okay. Different objects can use the same type of simple machine.

Also, note: sometimes bicycles are considered compound machines, but for elementary level, “wheel and axle” is the expected answer.

Final check: All 8 items accounted for? Yes.

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Final Answer:
1. Screw
2. Wheel and Axle
3. Wedge
4. Lever
5. Wheel and Axle
6. Inclined Plane
7. Pulley
8. Screw