Road Block

Episode 20                                                                            Planet: Stuff

Learning concept of the episode: Big objects are not necessarily heavier than small objects.

Story Summary

When Bing and Bong touch down, three anxious Flockers greet them immediately- the road is blocked! On inspection of the blockade, (made of spherical boulders of assorted sizes), Bing and Bong are sure they can help. They put on their hard-hats and Bing gets to work, straining to move the biggest one. Meanwhile, Bong enjoys much more success by moving boulders of all sizes. Confused, Bing examines the boulders, and discovers that most are hollow balloon-like objects, while the one that Bing is trying to move is solid. With this knowledge, and a little cooperation, Bing, Bong and the Flockers move the solid boulder and clear the road.

Focus Early Learning Goal

Mathematical Development 9: Use language such as ‘greater’, ‘smaller’, or ‘lighter’ to compare quantities.

Linked ELGs

PSE4, M4, KU9, P1, P7, C4

Preparation

• Watch the Tiny Planets episode  
• Talk about what Bing and Bong did in the story

Talk about…..

• What happened to Bing and Bong in the story?
• Working together
• How things can be deceiving
• That big doesn’t always mean heavy

Focus Activity

 Guess the weight (see overleaf)

Follow-on Activities

• Sink or float.
• Miming moving heavy objects and light objects

Guess the weight

Aim

For the children to make a guess at whether they think an object will be heavy to pick up by looking at the size of it

Resources

• Objects that are large and are a combination of heavy and light
• Objects that are small  and are a combination of heavy and light
• E.g. a box, a wooden box, shoe box, large balloon, medicine ball or shot put.

Guidelines

• Place the items on the carpet and let the children look at them
• Ask each child individually to estimate if the item will be light or heavy.
• Ask them questions about the object, ask them to describe it. Is it bigger than, smaller than etc.
• Let them then touch and pick up the object.
• Was their estimation correct?
• You can record your findings on a chart or graph (optional)

Key Vocabulary

Bigger, smaller, lighter, heavier

 Health & Safety

Ensure that the ‘heavy’ items you collect are not too heavy for the child to pick up. Make sure they do not strain to pick it up and stand in a correct position away from the other children in case they drop it.

Equal Opportunities

Children with a physical disability may find picking up the items alone difficult. Ensure suitable supervision.