Mobiles are free-hanging sculptures that can move in the air. Can you make a balanced mobile using our free shapes printable below? Make your own balancing mobile with a few simple supplies at home or in the classroom. We love fun and easy STEM activities for kids!
BALANCING MOBILES FOR KIDS STEM ACTIVITY
BALANCED MOBILE
Are you able to balance the shapes within your mobile? It might be harder than you think!
Even just balancing a straw on a string can be challenging. You might notice that if you don’t attach the string to the very center of the straw, it is pulled down on one side more than on the other.
To make the straw hang perfectly horizontally, the forces pulling on each side must be exactly the same. You are able to balance the straws out by moving the shapes around on the straw until the weight is equal on both sides.
Fun variation: Make a mobile with dots of various sizes. Check out our dot activities.
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR FREE BALANCED MOBILE PROJECT!
HOW TO MAKE A BALANCED MOBILE
SUPPLIES:
- Shapes template
- Cardstock
- Hole punch
- Scissors
- Tape
- String
- Straws
INSTRUCTIONS:
STEP 1: Print out the shapes template.
STEP 2: Use the template to cut shapes out of colored card stock paper.
STEP 3: Punch a hole in each shape.
STEP 4: Cut string and tie through each hole you punched so that each shape can hang on a straw.
STEP 5: Tie strings around each straw and then attach your shapes to your straws, two shapes on each straw.
STEP 6: Now adjust your shape’s position on each straw, so that your straws are balanced.
TIP: Start with balancing the bottom straw and work your way upwards.
MORE FUN THINGS TO BUILD
Click here for more easy STEM Activities and Science Experiments with paper
HOW TO MAKE A BALANCING MOBILE
Click on the image below or on the link for more fun STEM activities for kids.
