George and Dad carry TWO identical small cloth shopping bags to a garden table, one holds large wooden block, other folded light scarf.

George’s Heavy Bag

Shared Reading Books · Numeracy · Ages 3–4

George is helping Dad carry two bags to the garden table. The bags look the same. “Will they feel the same?” asks Dad. George wants to try.

George feels bag with large wooden block while Dad supports it, other bag on table.

One bag holds a big wooden block. Dad supports it while George lifts gently. “This feels heavy,” says George. He puts it down carefully.

George lifts bag with soft folded scarf gently while Dad watches.

The other bag holds a soft scarf. George lifts it a little. “This feels lighter,” he says. Dad helps him put both bags on the table.

George and Dad compare the scarf and block bags using the same wooden balance scale.

Dad brings a balance. They put one bag on each pan. George watches the pans move. “They are not staying level,” he says.

Balance scale shows wooden-block bag pan LOWER and scarf bag pan HIGHER, George points while Dad watches.

The pan with the block bag goes down. The scarf bag’s pan goes up. “The heavier side is lower,” says Dad. George points to the block bag.

“Let’s swap sides,” says Dad. They move the bags without changing what is inside. George watches to see whether the same bag is heavier.

Balance scale now still shows wooden-block bag pan LOWER after swap, scarf bag higher, George and Dad observe.

Again, the block bag’s pan goes lower. It is still heavier than the scarf bag. Moving it to the other side did not make it lighter.

George carries light scarf bag and Dad carries wooden-block bag away from garden table and balance.

George carries the lighter scarf bag. Dad carries the block bag. “The bags looked the same,” says George. “But that one was heavier!” Together they carry the bags to the garden table.

George’s Heavy Bag

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