Comparing weight is one of the first ways children measure the world: an elephant is heavier than a cat, a leaf is lighter than an apple. Every box on these sheets shows a balance scale with a picture on each side. The heavier side hangs lower, just as it does on a real scale, and the child circles the heavier thing, or the lighter one.

The two things on a scale are always very different in weight, like a dog and a balloon or a car and a bird, so the scale and common sense always agree. Talk about it together: why does the elephant side go down? Set Circle the to Heavier, Lighter or Mixed, where every box says what to circle. Choose four or six scales on a page.

The answer key says which side to circle, left or right. Press New sheet for new pairs. Every sheet prints in color or black and white, on US Letter or A4. Nothing to sign up for.

12 ready-to-print sheets

Open one to print it as it is, or press Make your own on the sheet to change it.

• Heavier or lighter · Heavier · 6 scales
• Heavier or lighter · Heavier · 6 scales · set 2
• Heavier or lighter · Heavier · 6 scales · set 3
• Heavier or lighter · Heavier · 4 scales
• Heavier or lighter · Heavier · 4 scales · set 2
• Heavier or lighter · Lighter · 6 scales
• Heavier or lighter · Lighter · 6 scales · set 2
• Heavier or lighter · Lighter · 4 scales
• Heavier or lighter · Mixed · 6 scales
• Heavier or lighter · Mixed · 6 scales · set 2
• Heavier or lighter · Mixed · 4 scales
• Heavier or lighter · Mixed · 4 scales · set 2