How to Play Balance Beans

Last Updated: May 12, 2022

Balance Beans is a fun game manufactured by ThinkFun. The purpose of the game is to teach logic and pre-algebraic skills to teenage children in a fun way. The game is easy to set up and play. This wikiHow will show you how to play Balance Beans.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Setting Up the Game

1
Check to see if you have all the necessary contents. The gray drawstring bag contains the important pieces of the game. These include:
- Balance Beans Instruction Manual
- Seesaw balance tray and base
- Challenge cards
- 1x red single bean
- 1x red double bean
- 1x red triple bean
- 2x single orange beans
- 2x double yellow beans
- 2x triple blue beans
Note: This game is for one player.
2
Assemble the balance tray/seesaw. The seesaw balance tray has 7 columns and 3 rows. You will only use the columns to solve the seesaw. The middle column is the seesaw's middle, which helps it balance (like an equals sign in an equation). Putting beans in the middle of the seesaw won't balance or unbalance the tray.
- Attach the gray tray to the blue base using the hooks on each side of the base.
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Playing the Game

1

Pick the first card from the "Challenge Cards" box. The cards are arranged from "easy" challenge to "super hard" challenge. Choose a card that you feel fits your current learning needs.
2

Set up the beans as shown on the challenge card's diagram. The red beans on the seesaw are stationary. The beans below the words Add to Balance: are for you to put on the seesaw.
3
Try to balance the red beans with the other ones on the seesaw. ^{[1]
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- Experiment with the beans. You will find out that the further you put a bean piece, the heavier it will be, and weigh the side of the seesaw down.
Tip: If you are a parent, playing or watching, this a great and fun opportunity for you to have an open discussions about the experiments.
4
Flip the card over for the answer. If you have tried multiple times to solve a card, and are unsure how to complete the level, you can flip the card over and the answer will show up.
- The solution is horizontal, so flip your card horizontally and flip it over to get the solution.
5
Work towards the harder levels after you've completed the easier challenges. After every ten cards, the level of difficulty will increase. On the 11th card, the challenge will increase from easy (shown in light green) to medium (shown in yellow).
- The 21st card will progress from medium to hard.
- The 31st card will progress from hard to super hard.
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Learning the Logic Behind the Game

1
Know what age this game is for. Younger children may not understand this game, so they will probably use guess-and-check to balance the beans. Tweens and teens (around middle school-high school age) are more likely to use math they already know, like multiplication and division strategies. ^{[2]
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- Even though younger children won't understand the logic to solve the game, the game can still teach younger children to use their logical thinking, and current math skills to balance the seesaw.
- Children of all ages will likely enjoy the game because of the seesaw concept and the funny expressions on the beans. Some beans have smiling, laughing, and confident expressions, whereas some have shocked, relaxed, and worried expressions.
2
Know what the game teaches you. The game teaches you pre-algebraic skills. This can also be applied during basic physics, where each column of the seesaw is multiplied by the force it exerts. You multiply the mass by the force the seesaw exerts and use algebra to solve the equation.
- For example, the first card has one red double bean on it in the 1st column. Multiply the 2x by 1 to get 2x. 2x = 1*(variable). The single bean you insert has to be put in the 2nd column, because 1x * 2 = 2x, and 2x = 2x.
- The game teaches you pre-algebra in a visual way. You are technically balancing an equation. The single beans are 1x (or just x), the double beans are 2x, and the triple beans are 3x.
- The challenge cards basically show you an equation, and you have to solve the equation.
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Tips

Use your basic arithmetic and logic skills to balance the seesaw.

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Children can exercise their logic skills to balance the seesaw.

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This game is for one player only.

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Warnings

Children under the age of 6 should avoid playing this game, as they will most likely struggle to understand the logic and math required to balance the seesaw.

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The beans are a choking hazard for babies and toddlers, ensure to keep the game away from these age groups.

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How to Play Balance Beans

Steps

Setting Up the Game

Playing the Game

Learning the Logic Behind the Game

Expert Q&A

Tips

Warnings

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References

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