for the past couple of weeks during math we have been using pan balances to explore weight.  We began by comparing two objects to see which was heavier.  Next we used counting bears and pennies to measure the weight of different objects.   We talked about he importance of using something that is uniform in size when we are measuring weight this way - rocks really wouldn't give us an accurate measurement because they come in many sizes and weights!

We have also started using the balances to help us with equations.   In one game,  one side of the balance holds a bag with ten bears.  One partner puts a number of bears between 1 and 10 into a paper bag and places it on the other side of the balance.  The other partner has to add bears until the pans are equal and then use the number of bears added to determine how many are in the bag.  For example, if it takes 4 bears to balance the mystery bag, there must be 6 bears in the bag.  This is a fun way to work on partners to 10.

In a second game, each partner rolls a die and puts a matching number of bears on their side of the balance.  Then they work together to bring the pans in balance by adding a different color bear to the lighter side until the pans are equal.  Once the sides are balance they make a number sentence to show the two numbers that were added together to make the pans balance.  For example, if one person rolls a 7 and the other rolls a 5 there might be 7 red bears on one side and 5 red bears on the other side.  The partners would use 2 yellow bears on the side with 5 to balance the pans.  Then they would make the equation 2 + 5 = 7.   These are complex games so we are spending lots of time playing them in a whole group before they become stations.