Balance and Motion

We have begun a new unit of study in Project Block -- Balance and Motion. ​Our first lesson in this new unit challenged students to balance a paper crayfish on their finger using just two clothespins. To begin the lesson students made a prediction regarding whether they thought the crayfish would balance on one finger using clothespins, and then they had to back up their prediction with a reason. After completing their prediction, students ran the experiment. Students had a great time figuring out the many ways you can balance a paper crayfish using clothespins. As a class we discussed that the clothespins are counterweights which makes it possible for the crayfish to balance. We discussed what the evidence showed when we put two clothespins on each leg of the crayfish…it will balance. Students then wrote their own summary paragraph including all of the information they had learned from this experiment. Below are photographs from the experiment.​