Use base ten weights to match the weight of each jungle animal on the scale.

Jungle Animal WeightsReviewed by Julie

How the applet worksYour help is requested in helping Molly balance the jungle animals by choosing the right unit weights.

1. Select safari level difficulty (medium, hard, or really hard)

2. Each animal is placed on the scale and its weight is given

3. Click the “10 unit weight” or the “1 unit weight” to stack up the weights on the opposing side of the scale until it equals the animal's weight

4. Push the "Balance" handle above to check if you were correct

AnalysisStrengths Weaknesses

Animated, colorful cartoon pictures to keep kids interested.Easy to follow instructions.Varying difficulty levels.Feels more like a game, less like math.There are multiple ways to get the right answer.Great way to practice using hundreds, tens, and ones.

Doesn’t reinforce the concept of regrouping.When a wrong answer is produced it tells you only to try again, no help is given to correct the thinking error.Redundant, could get boring quickly.There is on way to track a student’s errors and/or progress.

Evaluation of appletThe applet is easy to use and would require minimal help

from the teacher or peer.

Students who are ELL would likely be able to understand and enjoy this activity.

Applet is free and accessible online only.

It may be difficult for children to make a connection between the math in this game and what they’re learning in class.

There are better applets out there that are just as engaging, but more educational.

A Problem-Based TaskTask: How many different ways can you balance the weight of

a 367 pound hippopotamus using base-ten weights? Record each different approach on paper.

Connection to the standards and/or big ideas:Grades 3–5 Expectations: In grades 3–5 all students should-

Understand the place-value structure of the base-ten number system and be able to represent and compare whole numbers and decimals

Recognize equivalent representations for the same number and generate them by decomposing and composing numbers

Questions to Ask to Assess and Advance Student ThinkingLaunch Task Set-Up:

How many different combinations of base-ten weights can we create to balance the weight of a 367 pound hippo?

What are some examples?

Explore During Task Implementation:

What would happen if you weren’t aloud to use the hundred pound weights?

How else could we add ten pounds?

Summarize As students share findings, strategies, reasoning, etc.:

What did you find difficult about this activity? What strategies worked best for you? Can you think of an example of how we might use this new

skill outside of school?