Embedded Files
Let's read the book!
Children’s storybooks are a powerful tool to motivate students to engage in a mathematical topic, contextualise important mathematical concepts and promote mathematical reasoning (Muir et al., 2017). Research suggests that the rich fictional world created by the stories provide an authentic imaginative space through which students can participate in meaningful and relevant mathematical experiences (Russo & Russo, 2018).
This fun picture book is used to introduce mass as an attribute of objects and promote the use of appropriate descriptive language e.g. heavier, lighter, heaviest and lightest.
As the book is read out aloud, the young learners will be kept excited and engaged as they will be encouraged to make predictions about the mass of different animals and whether or not they will sink the boat.
Let's do the activity!
After reading the book, students will engage in a hands-on activity which allows the children to experiment with the concept, ‘mass’, depicted in the book. While experimenting with a variety of objects with a goal to sink their boat, students will build an understanding of mass as a measure, learn to compare and use the appropriate terms e.g. heavy, light, heavier and lighter.
Materials
A water table or bin large enough to fill with water and have several children gather around.
Milk cartons (cut in halves vertically to make two boats) – one per pair
A balance scale
Chart paper and markers
Weighted objects such as marbles, rocks or heavy manipulatives that are small enough to fit into the milk carton boats
Activity
After reading the book, demonstrate how the scale/balance is used. Use the weighed objects to determine which object is the heaviest, which object is the lightest and which objects weigh the same.
At the water table, have the children place their boats in the water. Using the weighted objects, have the children try to sink their boats. While children are experimenting with the objects, ask:
How many different objects does it take to sink the boats?
How many of the same objects does it take to sink the boat?
How many of the lightest objects does it take to sink the boat?
How many of the heaviest objects does it take to sink the boat?
Have the children record their results on the chart.
Enabling Prompt
Have the children use only one type of weighted object and ask: “How many marbles does it take to sink your boat?”
Extension
Blindfold a child (if a child is willing) and have the child take two different objects in his/her hands and compare the mass of the objects.
Ask: Which object is heavier? Which object is lighter? Have the children check their answers on the scale.
21st Century Skills Developed:
Critical Thinking
Students will need to reflect on the mass of each object from when the objects were weighed on the balance scale and predict which combination of objects will result in the boat sinking. Trial and error will force the students to reflect on their previous attempt and think critically how to achieve their end goal.
Communication
In pairs as well as class, students exchange ideas and articulate the solution to their problem i.e. how to sink the boat.
Collaboration
Students work in pairs and assist each other to find answers to the questions.
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