Keeping in balance
http://illuminations.nctm.org/LessonDetail.aspx?ID=L183
A lesson plan for grades K–1 Science
In this lesson for grades 1 and 2, one of a four-part unit from Illuminations titled “Exploration of a Balance,” students participate in activities in which they focus on patterns and relations that can be developed from the exploration of balance, mass, length of the mass arm, and the position of the fulcrum. This resource is referenced in the Illuminations unit titled “Exploration of a Balance” and is related to the Illuminations lessons titled “Maintaining the Balance,” “Shifting the Balance,” and “Finding the Balance.”
North Carolina Curriculum Alignment
Mathematics (2004)
Kindergarten
- Goal 2: Measurement - The learner will explore concepts of measurement.
- Objective 2.01: Compare attributes of two objects using appropriate vocabulary (color, weight, height, width, length, texture).
Science (2005)
Grade 1
- Goal 4: The learner will make observations and conduct investigations to build an understanding of balance, motion and weighing of objects.
- Objective 4.04: Observe and describe balance as a function of position and weight.
- Objective 4.05: Describe and observe systems that are unstable and modify them to reach equilibrium.
Kindergarten
- Goal 4: The learner will use appropriate tools and measurements to increase their ability to describe their world.
- Objective 4.01: Describe how tools can be used to make comparisons.
- Objective 4.02: Observe and describe how various tools and units of measure are useful:
- Scissors.
- Pencils.
- Crayons.
- Paper clips.
- Hammers.
