Balance

This activity invites K–5 students, in both English and Spanish, to explore the phenomena of balance and investigate the question, “Can you find at least three different ways of balancing three identical weights on a balance board?” Students work with a simple balance (e.g., a ruler as the balance board, a toilet-paper-tube fulcrum, and pennies as weights), to figure out how to balance the forces acting on the board. This activity supports the 3rd grade science standard on balanced and unbalanced forces. Teachers can use this activity in virtual or in-person environments, with minimal prep time and common household materials. Slides scaffolding the student experience can be modified to suit different learning contexts.The accompanying Teacher Support Guide contains suggestions for how to use the activity, support for sense-making discussions, content background, and connections to ELA, math, and the 3rd grade science standards.