June 26, 2006
Tips from Arlington TX: Balancing Toys
Here are some very useful notes from Susie and Stacey in Texas.....
Notes from the Balancing Toys Workshop
November 15, 2005
Kits/Materials
Kits are complete in terms of materials needed to implement the activities in the Balancing Toys guide, with the exception of assorted items used for making mobiles in “Activities 6 and 7.
The following materials still need some limited prep work:
• Noodles – Mark center point with a small ”X” and draw line around circumference of center point on long noodles for “Activity 1- Balancing a Model Body” as per directions on pg.20 in Balancing Toys guide. The side with the “X” will be the front/top of the noodle.
• Noodles – Cut 7’” slits centered on each side of the long noodles for “Activity 2 – Balancing a Model Boat” as per directions on pg. 31 in Balancing Toys guide.
• Noodles – Extend 7” slits in long noodles toward front end of each noodle; add 3 smaller 3” slits at rear end of noodles (one on top of the noodle – perpendicular to long slits; and one on each side, behind longer slits) for “Activity 3 – Balancing a Model Airplane” as per drawings on pg. 47 in Balancing Toys guide.
• Cardboard Arms – Score one side of the “arms” and fold for “Activity 1 – Balancing a Model Body” as per directions on pg. 19 in the Balancing Toys guide.
• Circular Cardboard for Tops – Mark and draw lines from mid-point of cardboard to the perimeter for “Activity 4 – Balancing a Toy Top” as per directions on pg. 51 In Balancing Toys guide.
• Dowels for Balance Beam – Mark 20” dowels in one inch increments for Activity 8 – Comparing Weights on a Balance Beam” as per directions on pg. 91 of Balancing Toys guide.
Facilitation Tips
• Invite students to try one or more of the “Balanced Bodies” challenges from the Family Science book handout distributed at the workshop prior to beginning the activities in the Balancing Toys guide.
• Enlarge/print/post the three general rules for respectful behavior (pg. 10 in Balancing Toys) and review them with students participating in these activities.
• Make sure that nails and/or toothpicks can easily penetrate the cardboard arms and legs used in “Activity 1 – Balancing a Model Body”.
• Extra pool noodles might be purchased and cut in different lengths to challenge students to create a real or imaginary 4-legged creature that balances horizontally.
• Plastic goggles should be made available to students as necessary, especially for “Activity 4 – Balancing a Toy Top”.
• Get copies of children’s trade books on sailboats and airplanes from your local public library for students to peruse when exploring activities related to these objects.
NOTE: You may want to send home a modified version of the “Letter to Families” found on pg. 101 of the Balancing Toys guide prior to beginning these activities with your students. Perhaps the families might have extra pool noodles they’d be willing to donate for extensions to Activity 1 or maybe they will help provide objects (from a suggested list that you create) for the students to use while building mobiles in Activities 6 & 7.
Posted by MarthaD at June 26, 2006 01:29 PM