Do you teach weight and measurement using non-standard units? Then you need to make this easy homemade weigh station for some hands-on exploration. It’s a great center activity or way to model non-standard units for the whole class.

Here’s What You Need

  • Hanger
  • 3 small binder clips
  • 3 large binder clips
  • 2 clear plastic cups
  • Bulletin board paper
  • Thumbtacks
  • Marker
  • Level

Here’s What to Do

1. Begin by placing the small binder clips on either end of the hanger. Remove the handles.

Step 1 - Easy Homemade Weigh Station

2. Place a large binder clip over the top of the small binder clips.

Step 2 - Easy Homemade Weigh Station

3. Attach cups.

Step 3 - Homemade Weigh Station

4. Make a hook for the weigh station by placing another large binder clip over a small binder clip. Remove one of the large handles and one of the small handles.

Step 4 - Homemade Weigh Station

5. Attach the hook to a paper-covered bulletin board by placing thumbtacks in the remaining small handle.

Step 5 - Homemade Weigh Station

6. Hang the weigh station on your hook.

Step 6 - Homemade Weigh Station

7. Draw a level line below the weigh station.

Step 7 - Homemade Weigh Station

8. Use different non-standard weights to see what equals what…

Step 8 - Homemade Weigh Station

9. …or what weighs more or less.

Step 9 - Homemade Weigh Station

 

Watch the video to get the complete how-to instructions for making the homemade weigh station: