Balance Scale
Balance Scale is an interactive maths tool where students build and compare totals on each side of a scale, exploring equality and comparison. It's perfect for teaching concepts like greater than, less than, and equal to - and you can add mystery blocks or hide totals to turn it into a challenge.
How do I access Balance Scale?
You can access Balance Scale in three ways:
- Through Teach Mode - open Balance Scale directly from the bottom bar of Teach Mode.
- From the Apps library - browse or search for Balance Scale in the Apps library.
- In your slide deck - search for Balance Scale in the apps panel on the right and tap it to drop it onto your slide. From there, you can move and resize it however you like.
How do I use Balance Scale?
Drag any numbered block from the row at the bottom of the screen to add it to the left side of the scale. Drag again to add more. The total for each side appears below it, and the scale tips to show which side is heavier. A symbol in the middle (e.g. <, >, =) shows the comparison between the two sides.
- To add blocks to the left/right side, drag the right pan on the scale first, then select blocks from the bottom row.
- The ? block is a mystery block - its value is hidden, making it great for "what number could it be?" challenges.
- Use the eye icon next to each total to show or hide that side's total. This lets you reveal one side at a time, or challenge students to work out a hidden total before you show it. You can also tap the eye icon next to the symbol in the middle to hide the comparison operator.
Use the buttons in the top-right corner to refresh the scale:
- Random - fills both sides of the scale with a new set of random blocks instantly.
- Reset - clears the scale so you can start fresh.
Changing block colours
- Tap the settings icon in the top-left corner to open the colour panel. Choose a colour palette for your blocks.
- Tap Clear at the bottom of the panel to remove all blocks from both sides of the scale.
Tips
- Click the star icon to add Balance Scale to your favourite apps.
- Click the timetable icon to connect Balance Scale to your timetable. (Read more about timetable connections here)
