Kindergartners in Jennifer Borst’s STEAM class at Lakeview Elementary School recently explored the science of balance through hands-on activities and storytelling.
To introduce the lesson, Borst read “Balancing Act” by Ellen Stoll Walsh, a playful tale about animals of different sizes trying to balance on a beam. Students discussed why certain animals could balance together and how differences in size and weight affected the outcome.
The kindergartners then participated in a movement warm-up, practicing balance by standing on one foot. They experimented with using their arms to steady themselves and learned how shifting weight affects their center of gravity.
Next, Borst read the seasonal favorite “Room on the Broom” by Julia Donaldson. Students talked about how the witch in the story found space on her broom for several animal friends and considered how balance played a part in that too.
For the culminating activity, students snapped colorful cubes together and tried to balance their creations on both sides of a decorated “broomstick” resting on a wooden block. Their goal was to create equal weight on each side so the broom remained level.
“This lesson is always a lot of fun because students get to literally feel how balance works,” Borst said. “They discover that balance isn’t just about one object or one person, it’s about how both sides work together. Seeing them problem-solve, adjust and try again is at the heart of learning in STEAM.”
The room was filled with excitement and plenty of concentration as students tested their designs, making science both meaningful and memorable.
