Recommended Age:  4+    

Level of Parent Involvement:   Low, once shown  

Materials 

• 2 baskets, trays, or other containers 
• A list of items to weigh (rock, penny, pencil, bottle filled with water, spoon, crayon, magnet, chalk, candle, book)

Steps 

• Define the terms “heavy” and “light” for your child, using an example of each. Example: use a penny for “light” and a book for “heavy.”  
• Ask them to hold out their hands, and place the penny in one hand, and the book on the other. Ask them if they feel the difference in weight.  
• Show them to place the “light” item in one basket, and the “heavy” item in the other basket.  
• Tell them they can put all the light items in one, and the heavy items in the others. 
• Invite them to weigh all the collected items and place them in the appropriate baskets.  

Variations 

• An older child can make lists of heavy and light objects around the home. 
• Use a blindfold or close eyes when weighing the objects, to isolate the feeling of light and heavy.   
• Order the objects from lightest to heaviest.