Grade 6 Spot the Simple Machine Review Activity

About This Resource

A whole-class bingo review game where Grade 6 students build their own unique bingo card by cutting out and shuffling 16 simple-machine tiles, then mark their card as the teacher reads out 20 real-life examples. A fun, low-prep way to review the whole topic before a quiz.

Overview

Instead of a single fixed bingo card, students cut out 16 tiles (each showing one of the six simple machines with a small original icon), shuffle them, and place them onto a blank 4-by-4 grid in their own order — so every student's card is different using just one printed page. The teacher then reads real-life examples from a 20-item call list in any order (a pair of pliers cracking a nut, a mountain road that zigzags up a hill, a drill bit turning into a wall, and more), and students mark the matching simple machine on their card. The first student with four in a row calls "Bingo!" and has to explain which examples matched their squares, which keeps the reasoning — not just luck — part of winning.

Resource Details

Subject: Science
Topic: Simple Machine Review
Category: Forces & Energy
File Type: PDF
File Size: 103 KB
Published: 07 Sep 2026
Downloads: 0

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How to Play

Print one copy per student (or per pair, for younger or less confident readers). Give students a few minutes to cut out their 16 tiles, shuffle them, and glue or place them onto their card before starting. Read items from the call list in any order — mixing up the order each time you play keeps it replayable across classes or in future years. This works well as a review lesson opener before the Quiz, or as a fun way to end the topic.

Variations

Student Callers: once students are confident with the game, let a student read out the call list instead of the teacher, which is good extra speaking and reading practice.

Teacher Tips

Cut a few call list items into strips and draw them from a bag or box instead of reading straight down the list — it adds suspense and makes sure the order is different every time you play.

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to match a real-life example to the correct simple machine by reasoning about how it works, not just recalling a word.
Students will be able to justify their answer by explaining which examples matched their winning squares.
Students will be able to recognise simple machines in objects and situations not directly taught in the main lessons.

Differentiation

SUPPORT: Let students keep the word bank of six simple machines visible during play, pair students together to share one card, and allow students to point to or say the machine name rather than write anything.
ON-LEVEL: Build an individual card and play independently, explaining each winning match in a full sentence.
CHALLENGE: After winning, challenge the student to give one additional real-life example (not on the call list) for each of their four winning squares.

Assessment

Teacher observation of how confidently and accurately students match examples to machines, and listening to student explanations when they call "Bingo!"

What's Included

2-page activity: instructions and call list, plus a cut-out tile sheet and blank bingo card
Editable DOCX version
Print-ready PDF version
Teacher caller key showing the correct simple machine for every call list item