How to Make a Measuring Scale

Making a measuring scale can help teach the concept of measurement and weight. You can construct a scale by using common household items. Making a scale takes little time and the finished product will allow you to roughly measure small items and understand the workings of a scale.

Things You'll Need

• 2 margarine bowls
• Hole punch
• 6 12-inch pieces of string or yarn
• 1 wire clothes hanger
• Duct tape
• 100-150 pennies
• 3 lb. bag sugar

Instructions

1. Punch a hole in the margarine bowls about 1/4 inches below the rim. Do this three times to create a triangle shape around the rim area of the bowl. Repeat this process for the other margarine bowl.

2. Pull lengths of string through the holes of one bowl and knot the ends so that the string will not slip through the holes. Take the other ends of the strings and tie them together around the left end of the wire clothes hanger. Repeat this process for the other bowl and tie the strings to the right side of the hanger.

3. Wrape duct tape around the string to keep it from sliding down the hanger.

4. Use pennies and sugar to make weights. Place pennies and sugar into small containers to measure 7 g, 14 g and 28 g. These weights will help you gauge the weight of objects you place in the opposite bowl. When the two bowls are balanced, the weights in the bowls are equal.

5. Hang the clothes hanger in an area where both bowls can swing freely.

References

• www.campsite24.ca: Make a Balance Scale

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish