Lesson · Kindergarten · Mathematics
Equal and not equal: cubes on a balance
- Kindergarten
- Mathematics
- 1 min 3 s
- British Columbia
- BCK-MA-12
Seven identical cubes go onto a balance one at a time, each one counted. The balance tips towards 3 cubes on one side with nothing on the other, and it comes back level when there are 3 on each side, because 3 and 3 are equal. Then 1 more cube goes onto the right side, the balance tips that way, and counting again gives 3 and 4, which are not equal. The video ends with a level balance labelled "equal" next to a tipped one labelled "not equal" while the voice says "Level means equal. Tipped means not equal."
Anyone can watch two lessons on the website without an account. Signing in is free, no payment and no card, and opens three a day; Plus has no limit.
Loading
In one sentence
The question this lesson answers
What does equal mean? A balance can show us.
Our balance has two sides to put things on.
Transcript
What the lesson says
What does equal mean? A balance can show us.
Our balance has two sides to put things on.
Here are some cubes. They are all the same.
Put 3 cubes on this side: 1, 2, 3.
This side is heavier, so it tips down.
Now put 3 cubes on this side: 1, 2, 3.
3 and 3. Now the balance is level!
Both sides are the same, so they are equal.
Now put 1 more cube on this side.
It tips! This side is heavier now.
Count this side again: 1, 2, 3, 4.
3 and 4 are not the same. They are not equal.
Level means equal. Tipped means not equal.
Curriculum
Where this fits
- British Columbia, Kindergarten
Mathematics, Patterns and algebra: equality as a balance and inequality as an imbalanceBCK-MA-12
The outcomes and strands follow the British Columbia curriculum.
Keep going
1 min 8 s7 and 3 More Makes 10
Grade 1 · 1 min 8 s
2 minAdding Polynomials by Collecting Like Terms
Grade 9 · 2 min
1 min 59 sAlgebra Tiles: Solving 2x + 3 = −5 with Zero Pairs
Grade 8 · 1 min 59 s
1 min 10 sChecking a Solution by Substituting
Grade 7 · 1 min 10 s
2 min 6 sChoosing a Scale When the Numbers Are Large
Grade 8 · 2 min 6 s
1 min 57 sDiscrete or Continuous: When to Join the Points
Grade 9 · 1 min 57 s
2 min 11 sDividing a Polynomial by a Monomial
Grade 9 · 2 min 11 s
1 min 14 sEqual and Not Equal on a Balance
Grade 1 · 1 min 14 s
- All Kindergarten Mathematics lessons
- Teachers: the maths worksheets for Kindergarten are in the dashboard, each with a worked example and a proven answer key.
- Try the graph paper, free for everyone, no account needed.
- Create a free account to watch three lessons a day, no payment and no card.