Give rough estimates of numerical answers to problems before doing them formally. Explain to other students how they go about solving numerical problems. Make quantitative estimates of familiar lengths, weights, and time intervals and check them by measurements. In this activity, students learn about the point of balance for their object. As the exploration continues, students attempt to balance a mobile they have constructed from paper clips, rubber bands, straws, and index cards.
Students learn how to counterweight objects to achieve balance.
As the activity progresses, students discover how objects of varying shapes can be balanced. Assemble, describe, take apart, and reassemble constructions using interlocking blocks, erector sets, and the like. Make something out of paper, cardboard, wood, plastic, metal, or existing objects that can actually be used to perform a task. Measure the length in whole units of objects having straight edges. Describe and compare things in terms of number, shape, texture, size, weight, color, and motion.