Pass the parcel

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Mass: Compare objects using the kilogram

Identify familiar objects that have a mass of about one kilogram
Record masses using the abbreviation for kilograms (kg)
Find objects that have an estimated mass of more than, less than and about the same as one kilogram and check by comparing to a 1 kg mass

Coloured drawing of students playing 'Pass the parcel'.

Equipment

An indoor or outdoor playing area
Balls or items in closed containers
Music
Scales
Whiteboard

Activity set-up

Players stand in a large circle.

How to play

Players form a circle and music is played. The balls are thrown from player to player. Players pass the balls until the music stops, when they estimate the mass of the ball they are holding, eg. about a kg, more than a kg, less than a kg.

Students sit or stand in a whole-class circle and throw or pass around 4 or 5 different balls, to music.
When the music stops, the students holding the ball or containers call their estimate of the mass of the ball or container out and it is recorded on a whiteboard.
After several estimates for the different objects have been recorded, students weigh the items to determine who had the closest estimate.

Variations

Use different balls or objects.
Players estimate the actual mass.
Teacher calls ‘change’ to change the direction of throwing.

Non-spatial measure