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Balancing Bird Puzzle NGSS

SKU #CTR-270
Availability: In Stock
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A wonderful do-it-yourself physics puzzle for students of all ages.

Description

Our Balancing Bird Puzzle is a wonderful do-it-yourself physics puzzle for students of all ages. Comes with four pre-cut wooden pieces, four ceramic ring magnets and assembly instructions. No glue required. After they build their wooden birds, students must set the magnets along the bird's wingspan to determine its center of gravity. But where, exactly, should those magnets be placed? That's where the fun - and learning - begins! Measures approx. 15 cm (6") tall with a "wingspan" of 20 cm (7.875").

blog button Read more on our Blog - Center of Mass Challenge

blog button Read more on our Blog - Center of Gravity on a Tightrope

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Reviews

3 reviews
Wonderful tool for learning about balance
Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Jan 24, 2022
I've had balance birds in the past, but they were the plastic kind with the weights sealed in. I really like this bird, where the removable magnets allow the young explorer to switch the magnet locations and see how it affects the balance. Close observation is necessary for young children due to the small size of the magnets. The "stand" is pretty wonky and could be improved on, which is the only reason I gave it a 4 out of 5 stars.
Kristin Malara

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Balancing bird
Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Apr 29, 2020
The stand and base did not fit together well. They kept falling apart. The concept was good though.
Richard Agrin

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the best!
Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Apr 21, 2020
I have the balancing bird plastic model and other balancing toys but this is my favorite. It clearly reveals the secret but still creates wonder. Amazing!
mark carter

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NGSS

This product will support your students' understanding of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)*, as shown in the table below.

Elementary Middle School High School

3-PS2-1

Students can use the Balancing Bird in the plan and to conduct an investigation to provide evidence of the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces on the motion of an object.

3-PS2-2

Students can use the Balancing Bird to make observations and/or measurements of an object's motion to provide evidence that a pattern can be used to predict future motion.

MS-PS2-2

Students can use the Balancing Bird in the plan of an investigation to provide evidence that the change in an object's motion depends on the sum of the forces on the object and the mass of the object.

MS-PS2-4

Students can use the Balancing Bird in an investigation to construct and present arguments using evidence to support the claim that gravitational interactions are attractive and depend on the masses of interacting objects.

HS-PS2-4

Students can use the Balancing Bird as an introduction to an investigation to use mathematical representations of Newton's Law of Gravitation to predict the gravitational forces between objects.

Suggested Science Idea(s)

3-PS2-1
3-PS2-2
MS-PS2-2
MS-PS2-4
HS-PS2-4

Students can use the Balancing Bird in an investigation to understand Center of Mass. It will maintain its equilibrium at nearly all times, and will recover from a great degree of upset. The bird's balance point is its beak. Students can further explore disrupting the state of equilibrium by adding paperclips to the wings, pressing down on one wing or the tail.

Students can investigate their own center of mass by standing on their left foot on a block of wood. What happens to their body when you ask them to reach left with their left arm? Their right arm and right leg will move to regain balance or Center of Mass. How does this resemble the Balancing Bird? Ask them how center of mass helps in riding a bike, skateboard, surfboard, or snowboard.

 

* NGSS is a registered trademark of Achieve. Neither Achieve nor the lead states and partners that developed the Next Generation Science Standards were involved in the production of, and do not endorse, this product.