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Unstable Table
Build your own Unstable Table with everyday materials! In this activity, you're invited to tinker with objects on a platform to figure out how to balance them in ways that don't always look like they should be possible. This activity supports investigations of balance and stability and can be a great warmup activity before diving into more complex balancing sculptures.
Use the hashtag #ExploringBalance to share your ideas and builds with us!
Materials
☐ Platform: find something that can be used as the surface for your unstable table, like a piece of cardboard, a game board, a book, or a cutting board.
☐ Base: Our favorite way to construct a base is to place a ball into a cup, yogurt container, or box to keep it steady. You can also try standing up a book or using the back of a chair.
☐ Objects to explore: Collect objects of different weights to explore like tissue boxes, toilet paper rolls, toys, and kitchen utensils. Tip: we prefer using objects that won't break even if they fall.
Use a Ball as a Base
Try placing a ball inside of a cup, on top of a toilet paper tube, on a spool of yarn or even on top of an upside-down saucer to keep it steady!
Tip: Construct a taller base to add some drama to your seesaw.
Construct Your Unstable Table
Make your own version of the Exploratorium's Unstable Table exhibit by placing your platform on top of your base. Arrange objects to see how the movement of the platform changes or to create a surprising scene.
Tip: Cut a paper towel tube into smaller sections and use them to keep materials that roll around (like marbles) in place.
Ideas and Examples
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Be resourceful
Even a basketball in a bowl can be the base for your seesaw.
Embrace surprise
Try balancing something heavy with something much lighter!
Read a book
A book standing on its edge can work as a base! Plus, we've put together a list of our favorite books to kick off explorations of balance and stability.
Set the stage for risk-taking
We try to use materials that won't break or make a big mess even if they fall over... or set up the space so that we're ready for crashes!
Make comparisons
Find materials to compare that are very different sizes, weights, and shapes. Even if you start by using the same object on each side of your seesaw, try to take the exploration further by building something that isn't symmetrical.
