Strength and Scales

Last week Kian was playing in blocks and seemed to inadvertently build a balance scale. He tested different plastic animals on either end to see what would make the beam tip. We talked about how scales help us determine weight and which object is heaver. Kian noticed that certain animals like the giraffe were taller than the rest, but not always heavier. Height may influence our predictions but the type of material can be a larger factor.

"This one is the lightest. This one is the strongest. He's the heaviest." Kian

​The next day, Kian continued to experiment with his scale. He associated strength with the heavier object. This time he experimented with different stones. He began noticing the placement of his pivot point or fulcrum changed the results. Outside, he built his scale with larger materials.
Zadie, Lisa’s daughter came to school and used the same materials to build a catapult. Austin, Jack and Kian joined and created a seesaw but instead of cooperative game, they used the invention to test their strength in a tournament.  One person (or several) would try to knock the other off. The winners would then compete against each other to find out who was the strongest. Sometimes children feel more secure without the pressure of winning or losing, but today the children chose to develop a game that would challenge them against their peers. Everyone was a good sport and had fun whether they won or not.