Primary Balances
TEKS Objective
The student is expected to collect data and make observations using simple equipment such as hand lenses, primary balances, and non-standard measurement tools.
Essential Understanding
The student develops abilities to ask questions and seek answers in classroom and outdoor investigations.
Science Background
Mass, Weight and Gravity: School for Champions (website) - Illustrated definitions of weight and mass, and how they are measured.
Mass, Weight and Gravity
School for Champions, www.school-for-champions.com
Measurement Standard for Grades Pre-K-2: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (website) - Explains fundamental concepts, skills and techniques of measurement—including the use of non-standard tools—for early childhood grades.
Measurement Standard for Grades Pre-K-2
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, www.nctm.org
Signature Lesson
Balancing Act: NCTM Illuminations (website) - Students use pan balances to investigate and communicate the quantitative relationships between different objects.
- Supporting Lessons
- Extensions
- Assessment Ideas
- Literature Connections
- Related
TEKS - Additional Resources
Supporting Lessons
Primary Balance Activity Guide: Ohaus (PDF) - Series of activities using a primary balance to increase students’ awareness and understanding of the relative mass of common objects, including comparisons with non-standard units of measure. The guide includes background for teachers, instructions on use and care of a primary balance, and student sheets.
Primary Balance Activity Guide
Ohaus, dmx.ohaus.com
The Weight of Things: Illuminations (website) - Focus students’ attention on the attributes of weight and mass as they practice using a balance to measure and compare objects’ weight, in both standard and non-standard units.
The Weight of Things
NCTM Illuminations, illuminations.nctm.org
Elaboration Lessons and Extensions
Exploration of a Balance: NCTM Illuminations (website) - Students balance pairs of like and unlike objects by changing the objects’ distance from the fulcrum. (A crayon serves as the fulcrum and a ruler represents the balance.)
Exploration of a Balance
NCTM Illuminations, illuminations.nctm.org
What Balances It? National Core Knowledge Colorado (PDF) - Students use a balance to compare the weights of different objects. The activity (Lesson Six) is on page 8.
What Balances It?
National Core Knowledge Colorado, www.coreknowledge.org
Assessment Ideas
Give each student a pairs of objects. Have students (1) use both their hands as a “balance” to gauge the weight of each object and (2) estimate which object is heavier. Then, have students test their estimations using an actual balance and cubes.
Literature Connections
You Can Use a Balance. Bullock, Linda (ISBN-13: 978-0516278995)
Measurement. Dowdy, Penny (ISBN-13: 978-0778743590)
Weight. Pluckrose, Henry (ISBN-13: 978-0516454603)
Additional Resources
Measuring Fun: National Core Knowledge Colorado (PDF) - Students read and learn about the history of non-standard units and how we developed the standard tools in use today. Through hands on experiments, games, and riddles, students learn how to use rulers, scales, measuring cups, thermometers, and clocks.
Measuring Fun
National Core Knowledge Colorado, www.ckcolorado.org
TEKS Navigation
Grade 1
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