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Lesson 3: Stabilising structures with weight

Exploring how adding weight to different parts of a structure can make it more or less stable.
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Three side by side images of a person making a model basketball hoops with blue straws and sticking a ball of purple dough on different places on the structure.

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Learning objective

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Before the lesson

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Lesson plan

1. Recap and recall

Explain that the children will be thinking about opposites by comparing two objects. Display the Presentation: Opposites and read the question aloud. Allow time for paired discussion.

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Teach in presentation mode

In this unit

Assessment – D&T Y1: Structures: Stable structuresLesson 1: Exploring stabilityLesson 2: Building stable towers
Lesson 3: Stabilising structures with weight
Lesson 4: Designing a stable pencil potLesson 5: Making a stable pencil pot
Created by:
Kapow Primary Team
Kapow Primary Team
Our team comprises experienced classroom teachers who love the foundation subjectsFind out more
Maintained by: Kapow Primary teamLast update: 27 March 2026

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