Balance & Motion
Investigation 1
Part 4
Mobiles
Students make mobiles to reinforce the concepts of balance, counterbalance, and stability.
3. Lesson set up and Management
Motion of Objects:
Describe the relative position and motion of objects. (PR01 1.1.2)
A mobile is a system of balanced beams and objects.
3. Lesson set up and Management
Materials:
Per student:
1 3 x 5 Index Card
1 Jumbo Straw
1 Half Jumbo Straw
7 Paper Clips
3 Rubber Bands
Scissors
Per classroom:
1 Sheet Mobile 1 Poster
1 Sheet Mobile 2 Poster
16 Small Pieces of Cardboard
Clothesline
Student Management:
Students work in cooperative learning groups.
It is helpful to have another adult in the room to assist with building mobiles.
Put teacher’s example up in front of room for students to use as a guide.
Students can draw and cut out seasonal shapes and pictures (for example, Halloween shapes, such as pumpkins, ghosts, black cats, etc.) in addition to 3 X 5 cards.
Writing Support:
Have students draw in their science notebooks their mobile design and answer the question “How do the parts of a mobile stay in stable positions?” under their drawings.
Reading Support:
None for this lesson.