Tilt is Cool!

Early Childhood Conference

August 7, 2015 (1:15-2:15pm; 2:30-3:30pm)
Katherine Brandon, EdD.
Be sure you have an orange card with contact information. All materials used
are available on my website listed on the card.

Objectives
Define types of balances/scales
Explore balances
Examine Uses for teaching

http://www.clipartbest.com/clipart-RcG6yEaXi

Balances or Scales?

http://guide.alibaba.com/shoppingguides/learning-resources-math.html
All images on this page from: <a href="http://science.jrank.org/kids/pages/190/Measurement-Tools.html">Measurement Tools - The Metric System, Measuring
Temperature, Different Temperature Scales, Measuring Weight, Using an Equal-Arm Balance</a>

Balance Types
Pan
Equal-Arm

Pan balance image from: 2013/09/science-words-of-the-week-for-september-23-27-2013/

Wood balance: http://www.montessorichild.com.au/products/wooden-balancing-scale

Weights image from: http://www.enasco.com/product/SB42944M

Images of children from: http://www.moveitmaththesource.com/equals/index.htm

Balances
Comparison Tool
Known weight to
unknown
Teach = Sign

Image from:
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/sites/default/files/posts/u24/im
ages/sci_balance.jpg

Image from: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/top-teaching/2013/05/experimentingexploding-soap-volume-density-teamwork

Today Tools
Equal arm Balances
Pan Balances
Digital Scales

Preschool Use

Explore!

Images of equal arm children from: http://www.moveitmaththesource.com/equals/index.html #

Image of pan children from: http://ewingskindergartenkiddos.blogspot.com/2015/01/100th-day-of-kindergarten.html

Activity 1 PS most any age

Place baskets of small objects next to the
balance on a table. One pan balance per
table. Challenge the students to figure
out which is the heaviest object in the
basket. (You will need to add a pan to an
equal arm balance with pegs for this
activity. Be sure to put the pans on the
same peg.)
This is a compare task where they place
one object on the left and test others on
the right. Do not limit what they test but
do provide a basket of small items to
begin. Remove the weights for this
exploration if your balance came with
them.
(demo smartboard use)

http://www.highhopes.com/lerweight.html

Activity 2 PS left/rt/count
Introduce standard units using
the weights that came with the
balance or select an object like
washers (all the same size) and
have students count how many
washers each object weighs to
find the lightest and heaviest
objects. Have them draw
pictures of each test.
(Use the same basket of objects
and again allow for creativity if
they bring other objects to test)
Images from: http://www.highhopes.com/lerweight.html

K-2
Science for Mass
Math as equal tool

Discovery learning
Cooperative groups
Learning Centers
Self-checking

Smartboards are great for showing whole class ideas

Mass
Basic Concepts*
Pivot Point = balanced

Images from: http://www.wikihow.com/Calculate-Mass

Activities on the symmetry

Rule (1-2)

Activities on the Relational

Rule (3-5)
*Not Important to your students:
http://www.tutorvista.com/content/physics/physics-i/forces/moments.php

1000g=1kg

Activity 1
(Remove the number line for science activities or cover
temporarily or turn around in our case)
Place one weight on the left side
Find how many ways you can balance the right side
Draw, write, or data table your successes
Move the weight on the left side to a new position
Now how many ways can you balance the right side?
Draw, write, or data table your successes
Discuss 1:1 ratio symmetry rule

Activity 2
Place two weights on the sixth peg from the pivot on the
left. How many ways can you balance the right side?
(Use as many weights as you choose but add them to
only one peg at a time not to two or three or more pegs.)
Use drawings, words or data columns to record your
successes.
Discuss

Activity 3
Start with 2 weights at the fourth peg on the left side from
the pivot. How many ways can you find to balance the
right side using as many pegs as you wish and what ever
number of weights you choose?
Draw or use words or data table to show your success.
Discuss (demo smartboard)

Activity 4
Place four weights on peg two on the left side and find all
the combinations you can balance on the right.
Again draw, write, or data table successes.
Discuss - if you have a teeter totter on the play ground
this is a good time to explore as a class the two rules
using large motor skills.

Activity 5
Set up your own combination on the left side and predict
what might balance on the right. Test to see if you are
right. Use as many weights as you choose and as many
pegs as you wish (bulletin board activity?)
Draw, write, or data table your successes. (This activity
can get quite complex and could take students days to
figure out depending upon what they choose to do.)
Discuss the relational rule

Math
Be sure to have the
number line in place for
these activities
The peg equal arm
balance works best for
these activities

http://www.highhopes.com/lerweight.html

Activity 1
Teach that the pivot point
stands for the = sign
Model some basic
problems with 1:1 tasks
1=1 would be one weight
placed on the left first peg
side balanced with one
placed on the same peg
on the right side
Be sure that you have
problem cards for them to
work with and the 1:1
ratio must stay below 10.

9=9

2=2
4=4

1=1

3=3

5=5

8
8=

Demo on smart board

Image from: http://quarkyscience.ca/shop/math-balance-scale-analog/

Activity 2
Move to multiple
one sided tasks =
one digit
Shown is 6+2=8
Make up cards
Let students
challenge each
other
Use to check math
problems

6+2=8

https://www.enasco.com/c/math/Measurement/
Balances/

Activity 3

9+6=5+10

Make up problem
cards with
complex tasks
9+6=5+10 is
shown
Have students
challenge each
other by making
their own problems

http://www.educatorsoutlet.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=382

Additional Math?

Subtraction
Multiplication
Division
Fractions
More

M
A
E
B
A
U
EQ

A
U
Q
E
=

M
R
LA

http://moveitmaththesource.com/equals/equabeamtasks/equabeamtasks.html

Pan or Bucket Balance $11.99

Pan Balance with Weights $34.99+

Cost?*
Pyramid Balance $4.00

*Prices from Educators Outlet

Equal arm Balances

Student size $4.49
Full Size $26-$40

No Balances?
No Money?
Make your own...
PCTURE OF OURS ALSO
Drill press or steady hand
Any thin board or use yard
sticks with CM markings
repaint those or find garden
rulers

Known/Unknown Image from: http://scienceprojectideasforkids.com/2010/mass-equal-arm-balance/

Coat hanger balance from: http://rainbows2snowflakes.blogspot.com/2013_10_01_archive.html

Quest
io

Materials available at my website

Contact information: Orange Card or
Katherine Brandon

Associate Professor
College of Education,
Concordia University Chicago
Email: Katherine.Brandon@CUChicago.edu
Website: http://kbrandoncuchicago.weebly.com/

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