Weighing it all Out

I can't take credit for this idea. It came from the mind of my husband and started with the kids being interested in a kitchen scale. It turned into a fun exploration with weight and numbers.

They started by placing some random objects on the scale that they picked up around the kitchen

We talked about which objects weighed the most and which weighed the least. The lightest was the little lady bug weighing in at less than an ounce. The heaviest weight we could get was 2 pounds when they weighed the hammer. Then we decided to add some objects together. We set a goal of exactly five pounds.

It turns our that was harder than it looked. Beanie babies and stuffed animals really don't weigh all that much. We stopped to think for a minute. What could we use to get to five pounds? We needed objects that were around the same size and could fit nicely on the scale. As Beanie pointed out "Things for measuring have to be the same size!" We finally arrived at the idea to use the wooden blocks from the playroom. Beanie thought it would take 5 blocks to get to five pounds. Belle said "pink" and "HUMONGOUS!"which seem to be her answer to everything.

 We stacked on one block after the other but soon realized that even with all 28 blocks on the scale we were just under 5 pounds. So we thought out loud. We need something else to add that only weighs a little bit. What did we weigh that might work?

The Little Lady bug!

I am not sure how clearly you can see it here but the lady bug put us at EXACTLY 5 pounds! Beanie was really excited and jumped up and down shouting "five! We did it!" I asked "How many blocks did it take?" he said "I thought it would be five but it was twenty-eight and a ladybug!"

We stopped the activity there for a lunch break but Beanie was still asking questions. "I wonder how many blocks it would take to get to ten pounds?" So I got out some cheese its and we did some exploration with them where we pretended the cheese its were the blocks. We did end up reaching a conclusion but I think it was a bit abstract for him at that point. 

Some other extension activities that would be great with this, especially with older kids would be:

- Record the weights of various objects and have challenges to figure out how to combine them and make a specific number.

- Weigh objects and use blocks and bugs or other smaller toys to get to the weight of the object.

- If you are doing it with multiple children have each weigh and object and then figure out how much they would all weigh together.

- You can also do some basic algebra like what I did with the cheese its. If 14 blocks equal 2 1/2 pounds how many pounds do 28 blocks weigh? 

This was a great introduction to weights and measurement and the kids both had a great time with it. You can really use any object that is a consistent size and kitchen scales can be found and thrift stores or on craigslist if you keep your eyes open:) Have a great time weighing, counting, and thinking critically!