Email icon

Small Balancing Bird Demo NGSS

  • Small Balancing Bird (single)
    Item #: CTR-250
  • - +
  • Small Balancing Bird Class Set (package of 12)
    Item #: CTR-260
  • - +
These small, colorful birds balance on anything.

Description

A smaller version of our original Balancing Bird, these colorful birds balance on anything - your finger, pencil point... The center of mass or center of gravity is designed to be beneath the tip of the beak. Each comes individually packaged with stand. Approx 8 cm (~3") wing span. Colors may vary.

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

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

Choking Hazard
Write a Review

Reviews

18 reviews
The Best!!
Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Sep 2, 2019
Repeat buyer. I have used these as rewards for my student for 2 years now. They love the larger one I keep on my desk and are absolutely thrilled to receive one. I give them out as special rewards and the response is fantastic!
Brandi Kirby

Was this review helpful?

0   0

Not perfect
Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Jun 17, 2019
I was super excited to give these as graduation gifts to my 8th graders. They're cute, fun, age appropriate and the kids really liked them. However, it turned out several of them wouldn't balance on the pyramid because the tip was uneven and the beak wouldn't rest on it. Also, the round metal balls on a couple fell out easily. The majority of them were fine, but the few that had issues was enough to make me irritated about spending $30 of my own money on them. Overall I'd say they're worth buying, especially if your school is reimbursing you. Maybe just get a few extras?
Gina
Owner Response: Our apologies! That certainly shouldn't have happened! A member of our Customer Service Team will be in touch today to either send you extras or refund your purchase.

Was this review helpful?

0   0

Major hit!
Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Feb 11, 2019
I have purchased these as prizes for my 8th grade science students. They LOVE them! They are one of my favorite products on the entire site. Will always keep a few on hand for rewards :0)
Brandi Kirby

Was this review helpful?

0   0

Happy
Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Dec 19, 2015
My students loved their balancing birds! And they enjoy my larger balancing bird too!
Lisa Reid

Was this review helpful?

0   0

School Favorites!
Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Apr 15, 2015
My students really love these, from first grade all the way through fifth!
Brandi Kirby

Was this review helpful?

0   0

Amazing Growing Spheres
Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Apr 15, 2015
These growing spheres are wonderful! I use them in different ways with several grade levels, ALL the students love them!
Brandi Kirby

Was this review helpful?

0   0

K
Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Mar 6, 2015
I loved it! Other adults enjoyed it, too. Especially the small size. And it makes you think - and examine why it balances so well.
Karen

Was this review helpful?

0   0

Kids loved them as inexpensive gift
Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Dec 19, 2014
Kids love these. (And mine are senior physics students.) They are often mystified at first. Is there a magnet holding it in place? But with gentle nudging they start to figure out what's going on. I love toys that help them discover.
Bonnie Yelverton

Was this review helpful?

0   0

Many Investigations with Balancing Birds
Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon May 5, 2014
The following are slightly edited comments of my student, Yuni. For the last two years I have been investigating balance birds. One of my investigations is that they float, even with extra weight on one wing. I like how they can balance on me and lots of different things. I recommend that the 12 pack include some more realistic looking birds.
Yuni Chun

Was this review helpful?

0   0

retired professor of biology
Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Nov 4, 2013
These birds are great activities for any age. People are initially intrigued by the balancing and then try to balance the bird on other objects. A great demo on mass distribution.
bill wellnitz

Was this review helpful?

0   0

balancing bird
Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Mar 13, 2013
Have purchased these before and absolute student favorite of all ages
Don Stokes

Was this review helpful?

0   0

Kids love them
Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Feb 13, 2013
Kids love these! Very durable, inexpensive alternative to the big balancing birds.
Science Teacher

Was this review helpful?

0   0

Disappointed
Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Dec 31, 2012
I have bought these birds over the years and was disappointed to see how small they were for the price. These are not covered by my school, but they come out of my pocket.
Denise

Was this review helpful?

0   0

teacher
Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Dec 27, 2012
It was what I expected and engaging to students.
Warren

Was this review helpful?

0   0

Balancing Bird
Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon May 16, 2012
My students love looking and playing with them. These are a hit!
Mayra Martinez

Was this review helpful?

0   0

Balancing Birds - low cost high value
Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon May 16, 2012
These fascinate the kids, and are cheap enough to get 1/student, w/ enough left over as prizes. I love these things.
Marina P

Was this review helpful?

0   0

Excellent
Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon May 16, 2012
Great product for teaching balance and motion!
B Lewicki

Was this review helpful?

0   0

Simple, but classic
Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon May 16, 2012
Picked on of these up for a display at school and it works just like it should, providing students with a "Why is it doing that?" experience.
Mr Williams

Was this review helpful?

0   0

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.

Q & A