MS2156

Estimating weight
Practical Task Your teacher will give you a bag or container that weighs exactly 1 kilogram. Lift it up and feel how much it weighs. Now lift each of the 5 other objects your teacher will give you and feel how much they weigh. Write the name of each object in the table below, and then tick the box to show whether it is less than 1 kilogram, about the same as 1 kilogram, or more than 1 kilogram. Object Less than 1 kilogram About 1 kilogram More than 1 kilogram

MS2156

Estimating weight - Teacher information

Geometry and Measurement - Measurement - Level 2

Description This practical task requires students to lift a 1 kg weight and then estimate whether a range of everyday objects weigh less than, about the same as, or more than 1 kilogram. Keywords Estimation; weight; National Standards. Task administration Equipment: A container or bag that weighs exactly 1 kilogram, e.g., bag of flour or sugar; 1 litre of water in a plastic bottle. 5 other objects ranging in weight, with some greater than 1 kilogram, some less than 1 kilogram, and some about 1 kilogram, e.g., school chair, school bag, book, school hand bell, sports equipment, pencil case, pair of shoes, rubbish bin. Some prior weighing may be required, especially of items that are "about 1 kilogram". Accept "about 1 kilogram" to mean a weight between 900 g and 1100 g. Let the students lift the weight of the 1 kilogram bag or container. When trialled, students were permitted to lift the 1 kilogram bag once only at the start of the task. To make things less difficult, students could be permitted to lift the bag or container at any time during the task. Have students lift all of the 5 other objects so they can compare their weight to the 1 kilogram weight. Then get the students to complete the table below.

Answers/responses Scoring: 2 marks (for all 5 correct) or 1 mark (for 1 error) Answers will vary depending on objects chosen.