Number Balance

by Educational Insights

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3.3 x 26.6 x 2.9 inches ; 1.5 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000QDZYCK
• Item model number: 1070
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,857 in Office Products (See Top 100 in Office Products)
  • #44 in Toys & Games > Learning & Education > Mathematics & Counting
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 6, 2007

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Number Balance is a T-shaped scale with 20 weights that visually demonstrates number relationships and operations, such as addition, subtraction, and comparisons, as well as pre-algebra concepts. It’s the easy, visual way to learn equivalents. Set includes scale, 20 balance weights, and teacher’s guide.

Product Description

What does it take to balance the scale? The Educational Insights Number Balance is a T-shaped scale with 20 weights that visually demonstrates number relationships and operations such as addition, subtraction, and comparisons, as well as pre-algebra concepts. Set includes scale, 20 balance weights, and teacher's guide.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great for improving early math skills!, July 17, 2008

By 

Kimbyy (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews

= Durability:3.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

I was at a teacher training and one of the kindergarten teachers brought this balance to show us. I fell in love with it immediately, I went home that day and bought it for my 4 1/2 year old who will be entering Kindergarten in the fall. When it arrived it was easy to assemble and my daughter started playing with it right away. You can demonstrate simple math such as equals, greater than, less and addition skills. My daughter played with it regularly.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent for both early math and pre-algebra, September 1, 2010

By 

W. V. Evans - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Number Balance (Office Product)

I was pleasantly surprised by how big and sturdy this toy is-- from the photos I expected it to be thin plastic, but it's definitely classroom quality. Each blue weight is 10 grams and would be tough to break even if you tried. I especially liked the little calibration clips, which allow you to balance the bar precisely.

My 4 year old enjoys matching both sides and watching the bar balance; my 7 year old is figuring out how to add numbers above 10. It was fun to watch her figure out why a 1 and a 5 weren't equal to 15, and later how to do subtraction with the balance. Now we're working on equations like 3 + x = 8, and soon we'll start into double variables.

It's better to look at this as an educational tool rather than purely as a toy. As a toy it has quite a bit of appeal, but I think for most kids it would take an adult's company to see the full learning potential. If you're willing to play along with your kids this toy can really open their eyes to why math works.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Visual and kinesthetic students become math masters!, August 28, 2010

By 

Susanne C. Hanson - See all my reviews

= Durability:3.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Number Balance (Office Product)

The is an awesome tool for all learners when you are seeking to stretch those minds to think beyond the concrete algorithm to a higher levels of Bloom's. Your visual and kinesthetic learners are given the ability to visually see and maniputlate what they preceive the multiple posibilities could be. Gives them visual evidence that there is more than one way to solve a problem. They are then empowered by their way of thinking because it is no longer wrong, but creative and requires a much higher order of thinking than "do and repeat" methods. I LOVE IT!!! Check "Hands on Equations" for your intermediate and middle schoolers. VALIDATE their thinking, stop lowering self-esteem and attitudes toward math.
Rating on durability is because I have only used bucket scale version, but am ordering 4 sets of this model.