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Balancing Act: Building a Hanging Mobile

Read a how-to text about building a hanging mobile in art class, then use prefixes, suffixes and base words to read and build long words.

Grade 4ELAInteractive · Printable

Aligned toRF.4.3.a

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What’s included

Single worksheet
Auto-graded online
1 Common Core standard
Printable answer key
10 questions
Classroom-ready

Details

Format: Interactive · Printable
Grade: Grade 4
Subject: ELA
Question types: Fill in the blank, Multiple choice, Matching, Circle the answer, Sorting, Short answer

About this worksheet

What students practice

Students break multisyllable words into prefix, base word and suffix to read them.
Students use the prefixes re- and un- and common suffixes to read and build new words.

How to use

Read the how-to aloud and pause to point out words with prefixes and suffixes. Students then answer the questions, splitting each long word into parts before they read it.

Curriculum

Common Core standard covered

RF.4.3.a

Use letter-sound knowledge, syllable patterns, and word parts such as roots and affixes to read unfamiliar multisyllable words, in and out of context.

Preview

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Balancing Act: Building a Hanging Mobile

Use prefixes, suffixes and base words to read long words.

Read the how-to

Read the steps. Look for long words with prefixes and suffixes.

How to Build a Hanging Mobile

1A mobile is a sculpture that hangs from above. Its arms hold shapes that turn and drift whenever the air moves. Building one takes patience, but the colorful result is worth the effort. Follow these steps from the Room 14 art studio.

2Gather your materials. You will need three wooden dowels of different lengths, strong thread, scissors, a hole punch, and stiff paper. Choose lightweight paper so that your mobile will not be too heavy to hang.

3Plan your design. Sketch five shapes, such as stars, leaves, or fish. Draw them on the stiff paper, cut them out, and punch a hole near the top of each one. A careful plan now will save you from frustrating mistakes later.

4Start at the bottom. Tie a shape to each end of the shortest dowel. Next, tie a loop of thread around the middle of the dowel and hold it up by the loop. Does one side hang lower than the other? Then the arm is unbalanced. Slide the loop a little toward the lower side until the dowel hangs level. That spot is the balance point.

5Build the middle level. Tie the loop from your first arm to one end of the middle dowel. Tie two more shapes to the other end. Find the new balance point the same way. You may need to readjust the loop several times, so work slowly.

6Finish the top. Tie the middle arm to one end of the longest dowel and your last shape to the other end. Find the balance point one more time, and tie a long thread there for hanging. A small dab of glue on each knot will keep the loops from slipping.

7Enjoy your mobile. Hang it where air moves gently, such as near a doorway. If a shape ever falls off, don't worry. Each part is replaceable. Simply retie it and rebalance the arm. Then sit back and watch your mobile spin!

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