This web site
Mass and Weight would work great in the
Grade 2 science curriculum for the topic on matter. Before we used this site I would have the students answer the question on the following quiz to spark their interest and understanding. After the quiz was complete We would use the SmartBoard as a class to experiment with different weights and masses. This would be a start to the students understanding this topic as they would also have a chance to use a real scale and explore both mediums for learning.
Student Exploration: Weight and Mass
Vocabulary: balance, force, gravity, mass, newton, spring scale, weight
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
1. Your weight is the pull of gravity on your body. Suppose you step on a bathroom scale on the Moon. How would your weight on the Moon compare to your weight on Earth?
A. greater on the Moon B. less on the Moon C. same on Earth and the Moon
2. Your mass is the amount of matter, or “stuff,” in your body. How would your mass on the Moon compare to your mass on Earth?
A. greater on the Moon B. less on the Moon C. same on Earth and the Moon
Gizmo Warm-up
On the Weight and Mass Gizmo™, you can use a balance to compare the masses of objects.
1. Place the dog on the right pan of the balance. What happens? _____________________________
2. Place the 5-kilogram (kg) mass on the other pan. Which has more mass, the dog or the 5-kg mass?
__________________________________________
3. The 5-kg mass is heavier than the dog, so take it off the pan and place a 1-kg mass on the pan. Add 1-kg masses to the left pan until it goes down. Then take one of the 1-kg masses off the pan so that the masses are above the dog.
4. Use this process of adding and subtracting other masses from the left pan until the two pans are balanced. Add up all the masses on the left pan. This is equal to the mass of the dog.
What is the mass of the dog? _________________________________________________
Base Block Subtraction is an activity that can be used with students on their own computer as individuals or as a group working together to solve the problems on a smartboard. This activity can be used with the grade 3 math curriculum to emphasize addition and subtracting that requires carrying and borrowing. The neat thing about this activity is that students can explore addition and subtraction using manuiplatives without the temptation of playing with them in a use other than that of mathmatics. Also unlike base 10 blocks students can trade in the virtual blocks and they automatically split apart into ones. The separation of larger blocks into ones or tens will help students to visualize the steps that need to be taken in order to solve the problem.
