Heavy Hitters Teacher Guide
Heavy Hitters
Teacher Facilitation Guide
Grade K-1 • 35 Minutes
Learning Objective
Students will identify that a scale is the specific tool used to measure mass (how heavy or light something is).
Classroom Materials
- Balance scales (3-4 sets)
- 2 Hula hoops or tape circles
- Bin of toys/objects (rock, feather, block, etc.)
- Real ruler & thermometer
Included Printables
- Lesson Presentation Slides
- Heavy/Light Sorting Hoop Labels
- Food Weights Drawing Sheet
Lesson Procedure
5
Minutes
The Hook: Tool Talk
Display the Ruler, Thermometer, and Scale.
"Friends, I need to know how heavy my lunch is. If I want to see if this apple is heavier than this grape, which of these tools should I use?"
Invite students to point to the scale. Briefly explain: Rulers measure length, thermometers measure heat, but scales measure mass (weight).
10
Minutes
Active Viewing: Measuring Mass
Play the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0DdQe66\_aY
Active Mime: When a pumpkin or watermelon appears, have students mime holding something very heavy. When flour appears, mime holding something light.
Pause @ 0:15: Have students guess (estimate) which kitchen item is the heaviest.
Pause @ 0:33 & 0:49: Ask: "Where is the red needle pointing? What number is that?"
15
Minutes
The Sort & Compare
Place the "Heavy" and "Light" labels in two hoops on the floor.
- Group Sort: Students pick an item and place it in the hoop they think it belongs in.
- The "Judge": Introduce the Balance Scale. "When one side goes down, that side is heavier!"
- Comparison: Choose two items from the hoops. Have students predict which is heavier, then place them on the scale to verify.
5
Minutes
Closure: Favorite Foods
Distribute the Food Weights Drawing Sheet. Students draw one food they love that is heavy (like a giant pizza or turkey) and one that is light (like a grape or popcorn).
Vocabulary: Mass, Scale, Heavy, Light, Estimate
Heavy Hitters • Science & Math
Heavy Hitters Presentation Slides
Heavy Hitters
Learning All About Mass
Which Tool Do We Need?
Ruler
Thermometer
Scale
"I want to know how heavy my apple is!"
Science Words
MASS
How heavy or light something is.
SCALE
The tool we use to measure mass.
Time for a Movie!
Can you act out what we see?
Heavy
Puff your cheeks!
Light
Float like a cloud!
Embedded media
Which was...
The Heaviest?
(8 Kilograms)
The Lightest?
(2 Kilograms)
Heavy or Light Sort
1
Pick an object from the bin.
2
Guess: Is it heavy or light?
3
Put it in the correct hoop!
Let the Scale Judge!
When one side goes DOWN,
that object is the HEAVIEST!
