Balanced Equations

My teammate, Mrs. Guzman, had a great way of having the students show their understanding of equal, or balanced, number sentences. Each student was given a sum to show with paper color tiles in two different ways on a student drawn balance scale. The students then wrote to explain the number sentences and how they were equal.

Balancing Number Sentences

The students used balance scales and manipulatives to demonstrate different ways to make the same sum. This helps them understand two different number sentences that are equal or to find a missing part of a number sentence.

Comparing Weight

My teammate, Ms. Branch, came up with a great way to assess if the students understand how a balance scale works and if they have the ability to compare the weights of various objects. The students created a balance scale on construction paper out of a one inch strip of paper and a die-cut "v". They then chose two magazine pictures to glue on the scale to show which was the heaviest and which was the lightest. They then wrote comparative sentences to describe the weight of the objects.