Abstract
In this study a new two-dimensional balance lever was developed as a teaching tool in advanced science class of sixth graders in elementary school, in order to help pupils to understand and use the principle of leverage and its mechanism to balance things horizontally. Through practical application of this teaching tool to pupils, we investigated its usefulness and clarified the following four points: 1) This teaching tool consists of a brass nail (size 1.6) as fulcrum, an acrylic plate (1 mm thickness), and 5.0 g balance weights. 2) After the science class using this tool, pupils’ recognition and understanding of the mechanism of lever and its calculation method changed, achieving a correct understanding of the role of the fulcrum. 3) Pupils were able to solve some problems of the two-dimensional balance lever by construction or calculation method. 4) Pupil’s recognition of the lever changed from being a teaching tool to making a new discovery. It is thus suggested that pupils feel the new teaching tool to be useful, since in addition to changing their recognition of the mechanism of lever and calculation method, they were able to deepen their understanding of and enhance their satisfaction with the science class.
