Heavier and Lighter

Today we are going to compare the weights of some objects. Weight is the measure of how heavy or light something is. 


First we have to make a Balance Scale. I'm going to show you how to make two different kids of balance scales. This part will take a lot of parent support! Sorry parents!

Hanging Balance Scale
You will need:

• A clothes hanger with slots in it so the clothes don't slip (or a plain clothes hanger and some tape)
• string or yarn
•  2 matching containers that have a "lip" empty sour cream or margarine containers or Rubbermaid containers (we won't hurt them)

First cut 8 pieces of string or yarn about 80 cm long
Wrap one around the container under the lip and knot it.

Continue with 3 more on one container and make them even around the container

Tie the strings together near the loose ends of the string.

Repeat for the second container - try to make the tied strings the same length on both containers. 

Slip the strings over the hanger notches .

Hang the coat hanger on a doorknob or cupboard knob. 

You have a balance scale!

Balance scale #2

If you cannot make a hanging balance scale, then you can try a teeter totter kind of scale. Use a small can (tomato paste works well) and a large hardcover book or a shoebox lid. You will need sticky tack or play dough to hold the can so it doesn't roll around your table or floor where you will be using it. This is simpler, but harder to use independently as it might take two people.

Now lets compare some weight. 

Find a small stuffed animal. You probably all have one of these! It has to be small enough to fit in the container. Don't choose a really tiny one! Put it in one of the containers on the balance scale. (or on one side/ end of the teeter-totter scale)

What happens? Why does this happen?

Put a spoon in the other side of the balance scale (now you have your stuffie in one container and a spoon in the other container).

What happens?  What is heavier, the spoon or the stuffed animal? How can you tell?

Find 3 (or more) objects that are heavier than your stuffed animal.

Find 3 (or more) objects that are lighter than your stuffed animal. 

Make a chart!  You can fill in the chart using words or pictures. Or both!  

Can you find anything that weighs the same as your stuffed animal? How can you tell that it is the same? What does your balance scale do? 

Does bigger always mean heavier? 
Think about one of the stumps (logs) in our Kindergarten playground.  Have you tried to move one? They are so heavy that they are hard to pick up. We usually roll them because they are really heavy!  Now think about a pillow. Have you tried to move one? Was it easy? But the pillow and the log are about the same size - the same "bigness". Why is the log heavier? 
Size and weight are not always related! Small objects can be heavy and big objects can be light (another example of this would be a baseball vs a beachball)