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K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Finding the balance

http://illuminations.nctm.org/LessonDetail.aspx?ID=L186

A lesson plan for Grades 6–8 Mathematics

Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

About this resource

Appropriate grades
6–8
Subjects
mathematics (measurement)
Provider
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

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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. Illuminations provides an activity sheet and instructions for completing the lesson.

Students will:

  • Construct and use a two-pan balance.
  • Record the results of weighing.
  • Compare mass of two objects.
  • Become familiar with the relationship in balancing between the length of the mass arm and the mass of the objects on either side.

NCTM Standards and Expectations:

  • Understand, select, and use units of appropriate size and type to measure angles, perimeter, area, surface area, and volume.
  • Solve problems involving scale factors, using ratio and proportion.
  • Solve simple problems involving rates and derived measurements for such attributes as velocity and density.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Mathematics (2004)

Grade 6

  • Goal 2: Measurement - The learner will select and use appropriate tools to measure two- and three-dimensional figures.
    • Objective 2.01: Estimate and measure length, perimeter, area, angles, weight, and mass of two- and three-dimensional figures, using appropriate tools.

Grade 7

  • Goal 2: Measurement - The learner will understand and use measurement involving two- and three-dimensional figures.
    • Objective 2.01: Draw objects to scale and use scale drawings to solve problems.
    • Objective 2.02: Solve problems involving volume and surface area of cylinders, prisms, and composite shapes.

Grade 8

  • Goal 2: Measurement - The learner will understand and use measurement concepts.
    • Objective 2.01: Determine the effect on perimeter, area or volume when one or more dimensions of two- and three-dimensional figures are changed.