Body Scale

Activity Overview

Body Scale is aimed at bringing awareness to one’s body and understanding what our sensory systems are trying to communicate to us. This activity promotes balance, grace through motion, and expands cognitive understanding of what it means when something is heavy or light. How do we know if something is heavy or light? Do we recognize this by its size or density? Young children best learn these concepts through active engagement and experiencing the world in a hands-on manner. Body Scale can also be used as a way to build core, trunk and arm muscles, as well as the fine motor muscles of the hand.

What You Need

• Your body

• Various items collected from the child's environment

Steps

1. Collect various items from around the house. As you and your student collect the items, have them notice the weight of each and ask them to describe how it feels. Take note of what they say, as they will reflect on their thoughts later.

2. Have your student choose two items, then stand up tall with their arms stretched straight out to either side.

3. Ask the student what they think will be the heavier or lighter object. After they respond, place the items in either hand and ask them to describe how each item feels, and which they think is lighter or heavier.

4. Repeat this with different combinations of items. Give the student time and space to think about and explain why they believe something will weigh the way they predict.

5. To wrap up the activity, go over your notes and reflect on their experience. Invite the student to draw something or build something to represent their Body Scale.

Guiding Questions

• How does this item feel in your hands?

• Do you think it will be lighter or heavier than other items we picked up?

• How does your body feel while you are holding these objects?

• Was your prediction right? Why or why not?

Extensions

• Follow up this exploration with the scale making activity, Five Pounds, Six Pounds, Seven Pounds, if your student is excited to try more!