Back
Science Experiment using a Hanger Scale
Celebrating Black History Month
Duodu is the CEO of Visions of Science Networks for Learning, a charitable organization that empowers youth through meaningful engagement in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). Dr. Duodu is dedicated to presenting STEM programs that are accessible and fun as a way to inspire and elevate young minds.
Today’s activity will provide your child an opportunity to develop scientific curiosity in their early years. It can introduce new skills, such as measuring, counting, comparing, weighing and problem solving. This creative science experiment makes learning fun. Let’s begin!
-
1. Use the hole punch, make 3 holes near the top of each plastic container, placing the holes equal distances apart.
-
2. Cut 6 lengths of yarn/strings, make sure they are the same length.
-
3. Thread the yarn/string through the holes in one of the cups/containers.
-
4. Align all 6 ends of yarn/strings and tie them into a single knot. This knot will be used to hang the container.
-
5. Repeat for the second cup/container.
-
6. Hang your coat hanger somewhere where it can swing easily, and is low enough for kids to reach like a doorknob.
-
7. Ask your child to find different items from around your home to fill each cup with.
-
8. Let your child place different small objects in each container to see which item is heavier.
Begin this activity by asking your child “I’d like us to play the ‘Which one is heavier?’ game. Can you find different things for us to weigh on our new scale?”. Allow your child to freely collect items around your home. Encourage your child to place the items in the cups to test out what happens to the scale. Let them continue testing out the items they collected in the cups and ask them “Which cup do you think weighs heavier?”. This enriches their language and also allows them to predict and investigate. Did your child guess correctly? Ask them “How can you tell which cup is heavier?”. If they do not know, explain to them that the cup that is lower is the heavier cup. Encourage them to find more items and ask “Can you try to balance the scale?”. Try your best not to intervene with their explorations. Through trial and error, your child will figure it out. This helps them practice their problem-solving skills. Follow your child’s lead, and this can be an activity that you can come back to again and again.
Tip: There are many ways to extend this activity. You can compare objects by size or quantity, make predictions before you weigh items and write down your findings like what a research team would do. You can also learn counting numbers and make comparisons using counting such as “How many Legos did the car weigh for the scale to be balanced?”.
EarlyON