Lesson Summary Students experiment with a cutout figure of a crayfish and attempt to balance it on its side, nose, and tail using clothespins as counter weights. Teacher Background Students are introduced to the concept that objects can be balanced in multiple ways.  They are also introduced to the concept that counterweights can help balance an object.  Students learn that counterweighing can change the way an object is balanced. Set-up/Management Tips This lesson will take about 50 minutes. The kit comes with the cardstock crayfish pre-cut.  Check the crayfish and don’t use any with bent parts.  Clothespins come in the kit as well but having extra on hand is helpful. Before class have chart paper ready for recording content chart items. (Content chart items focus on the big ideas students should have learned in the lesson, see the content chart section of the lesson in the teacher’s manual.) Literacy Support Books Available Through VAST Mediagraphies: Books Available Through VAST Mediagraphies: (see Literacy Links) Science Stories There are no Science Stories with this lesson. Scientific Vocabulary The following words are key vocabulary words that will be introduced in this lesson and reinforced throughout the unit: Crayfish