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Using a Balance

Using a Balance

TEKS Objective

The student is expected to collect, record, and compare information using tools, including computers, hand lenses, rulers, primary balances, plastic beakers, magnets, collecting nets, notebooks, and safety goggles; timing devices, including clocks and stopwatches; weather instruments such as thermometers, wind vanes, and rain gauges; and materials to support observations of habitats of organisms such as terrariums and aquariums.

Essential Understanding

The student uses age-appropriate tools and models to investigate the natural world.

Science Background

Primer Balance Activity Guide: Ohaus Corporation (PDF) - Second grade students are not learning about measurement using standard units. They are, however, investigating how heavy or light something is, and comparing the weights of different objects, sometimes through the use of balance scale. Teachers will find that this activity guide provides excellent background information about the construction of a double pan balance, and how it works.

Primer Balance Activity Guide
Ohaus Corporation, www.ohaus.com

Mass vs. Weight: NASA (video) - Build your understanding of the difference between mass and weight with this video produced on the International Space Station.

Mass vs. Weight
NASA, www.nasa.gov

Signature Lesson

Keeping in Balance: NCTM Illuminations (website) - Students balance pairs of like and unlike objects.

Keep in Balance
NCTM Illuminations

Supporting Lessons

How Much Does it Weigh? Vermillion Parish (LA) School District (website) - Students predict, measure and compare the weight/mass and volume of different solids and liquids using observation and a primary balance.

How Much Does it Weigh?
Vermillion Parish (LA) School District

Elaboration Lessons and Extensions

Keeping in Balance: Illuminations (website) - Students balance pairs of like and unlike objects by changing items’ distance from the fulcrum. They also record observations about the positions of the objects on the balance and identify patterns in their work.

Keeping in Balance
Illuminations, Illuminations.nctm.org

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
Illuminations, illuminations.nctm.org

Assessment Ideas

Have each student bring five objects from home and use a balance to rank the objects by mass.

Literature Connections

You Can Use a Balance. Bullock, Linda (ISBN-13: 978-0516278995)

Millions to Measure. Schwartz, D. (ISBN-13: 978-0060848064)

Weighing the Elephant. Ting-xing, Ye (ISBN-13: 978-1550375275)

Related Science TEKS

(2.1A) Science Safety
The student is expected to identify and demonstrate safe practices as described in the Texas Safety Standards during classroom and outdoor investigations, including wearing safety goggles, washing hands, and using materials appropriately.

(2.1B) Importance of Safe Practices
The student is expected to describe the importance of safe practices.

(2.1C) Recycling/Disposal of Science Materials
The student is expected to identify and demonstrate how to use, conserve, and dispose of natural resources and materials such as conserving water and reuse or recycling of paper, plastic, and metal.

(2.2A) Ask Questions
The student is expected to ask questions about organisms, objects, and events during observations and investigations.

(2.2B) Plan and Conduct Descriptive Investigation
The student is expected to plan and conduct descriptive investigations such as how organisms grow.

(2.2C) Collect Data
The student is expected to collect data from observations using simple equipment such as hand lenses, primary balances, thermometers, and non-standard measurement tools.

(2.2D) Record and Organize Data & Observations
The student is expected to record and organize data using pictures, numbers, and words.

(2.2E) Communicate and Justify Explanations
The student is expected to communicate observations and justify explanations using student-generated data from simple descriptive investigations.

(2.2F) Comparing Results of Investigations
The student is expected to compare results of investigations with what students and scientists know about the world.

(2.3B) Make Predictions
The student is expected to make predictions based on observable patterns.

Related Math TEKS

2.12D    The student is expected to use tools such as real objects, manipulatives, and technology to solve problems.

2.13A    The student is expected to explain and record observations using objects, words, pictures, numbers, and technology.

Additional Resources

Poddle Weigh In: PBS Kids (website) - This interactive game challenges student to determine the mass of different creatures, called “poddles,” using a virtual balance scale.

Poddle Weigh In
PBS Kids, www.pbskids.org

 

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