DOUBLE TAP TO ZOOM ON PHONE OR TABLET Expand the Activity • What happens when you move your other hand? • Cut a full-​size noodle in half lengthwise and ask children to try to walk along the length of the noodle to begin gaining a sense of balance. Demonstrate how they might use their arms to help them balance. Don’t worry if the children find this hard to do; adults have trouble with this activity too! Children are developing the concept of balance. • How can you keep the noodle in your hand? • What happens when you move fast? • What happens when you move slowly? Home-​School Connection • Place a piece of painter’s tape 5–6 feet long on the ground and have children practice walking along the tape. You can make zigzag lines and shapes from the tape too! Share with parents that you introduced the concept of balance to the children today. Invite the parents to find household objects that the children can use to practice learning about balance and how to stabilize objects. Build Vocabulary Suggested Books balance, stabilize, adjust, adjustment, movement, palm, feet, body, concentration, fast, slow • Barnyard Dance by Sandra Boynton Inquiry Questions and Comments • From Head to Toe (board book) by Eric Carle • We’re going to learn about balance today. Let’s practice balancing on one foot. Great! Some- times we have to hop a little in order to keep our balance. • Dancing Feet by Lindsey Craig • My First Body by DK Publishing • Now we’re going to try balancing something in our hand. This is the palm of your hand. Show me the palm of your hand. Place the noodle (horizontally) across the palm of your hand. STEM ACTIVITIES  COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL 55