Weight and volume - Measure mass - Presentation

This set of teaching slides focuses on the concept of measuring mass, specifically designed for educational purposes. The lesson introduces students to the idea of using non-standard units, such as cubes, to measure the mass of various objects. The fundamental question posed to the students is what it signifies when the scales are balanced. This leads to a discussion about balance and the equality of mass on either side of the scale. Students are encouraged to think about alternative objects that could be used to compare masses, such as how one strawberry might weigh the same as three pencils. The activities are designed to help students visually and practically understand the concept of mass and how to measure it using different objects.

Diving deeper into the concept, the students participate in activities where they must determine how many cubes are equivalent to the mass of items like an apple or a toy. They are tasked with weighing objects using cubes and then re-weighing them with other non-standard units, recording their observations on which units are more effective or less suitable for measuring mass. Through these exercises, students explore the best units to measure heavier objects, like a book, and are prompted to consider the outcomes of adding or removing cubes from the balance scale. The lesson emphasises reasoning and critical thinking, as students must justify their answers and understand the relationship between mass and balance. Independent work reinforces the learning objectives, where students complete sentences related to the balance scales and engage in discussion about the best classroom objects to use for measuring mass.