Seesaw Science

Can a smaller kid lift a bigger kid on a seesaw? Every student has wondered — and this one-page lever worksheet lets them answer it like scientists, by reading the results of a real test.

Students meet Maya, who is smaller than her big brother. A clear labeled diagram shows the seesaw with three seat positions, and a simple results table records what happened when Maya tried each one: close to the middle, nothing moved; halfway out, a slight tilt; at the very end, she lifted her brother! Three questions walk students from reading the data to owning the rule: they identify the winning seat, choose the statement the test supports (the farther from the middle you sit, the harder your side pushes down), and then apply the rule in reverse — with a scaffolded sentence starter — to make a lopsided seesaw fair for a smaller rider.

What's included:

• One-page, no-prep worksheet with labeled seesaw diagram and results table
• Complete answer key with a sample written response

Analyzing simple test results is genuine engineering thinking — no formulas, no jargon, just a puzzle every kid has lived. Supports NGSS MS-ETS1-2 and MS-PS2-2 (supporting).