Montessori Activity: Balancing Weights

Age: From 3 years old

Activity Duration: 5 minutes

Objective(s):
1. To teach the concept of heavy and light in a fun way
2. To teach the law of gravity in a concrete way

Materials:1. 1 see-saw balance scale
2. 1 bowl filled with fanta colour pegs or dry beans

Directions:
1. Add a few of the pegs or beans in the left container one at a time until the container begin to sink.

2. Tell your child that weight of the pegs will lower the container down and lift the empty container up.

3. Add a few pegs or beans to the other container one at a time, until the containers balance each other.

4. Tell your child that equal weight will balance the see-saw scale.

5. Encourage your child to try and experiment.

Additional Information:
I tried this with Joshua, but made the mistakes of making it complicated with styrofoam, marbles and pegs, and Joshua lost interest. He could not see the purpose of this game. I then make this simplified version with only pegs, but I still don't think he Joshua is developmentally ready for this. I think I will try again when he is 3 years old.

References:
http://nurturingthetenderyears.blogspot.com/2011/05/homemade-balance-for-learning-about.html