Big Idea:
Gravity pulls everything towards a heavier mass, but balance and design can make objects float, spin, and even “dance” in the air—just like planets orbiting the Sun or moons circling planets.

Concepts Explored:

• Gravity pulls all things toward the Earth’s center.
• Objects can stay “up” if they’re balanced evenly on a support point.
• Art can be used to explore and demonstrate forces and motion.

Step-by-Step Instructions:
Explore Balance:

• Have your learner(s) try to balance a ruler or stick on one finger.
• Add objects (paper clips or small toys) to one side and see what happens.
• Challenge: Can you find a way to add weight to both sides so it balances again?
• Show a picture of an Alexander Calder mobile or short video of kinetic sculpture. Example

Build a Mobile:

• Start with one horizontal piece as the “arm.”
• Add two hanging items of equal weight to either end—test for balance.
• Then suspend another arm from one end and repeat!
• Let learners layer up to 2–3 tiers, experimenting with symmetry, asymmetry, and balance.

Science Tie-In:

• Just like your mobile balances because gravity pulls down and each side evens out, planets orbit because they are balanced between gravity pulling in and motion pulling away.
• Earth doesn’t fall into the Sun because it’s moving sideways fast enough to stay in orbit—just like how your mobile arm doesn’t tip over if both sides are even.

Artist Spotlight – Ruth AsawaMint and Bloom has a lesson on them you can buy as a single or as part of a Read, Grow, Glow pack.

Meet the Artist: Ruth Asawa

• Who: Japanese-American artist (1926–2013)
• Known for: Creating wire sculptures that hang in space, casting shadows and gently moving with the air.
• Background: As a child during WWII, Asawa was forced into an internment camp with her family. She later became a renowned artist and arts education advocate.

Big Ideas to Share:

• Her sculptures are made with looped wire, kind of like drawing in the air.
• She made them by hand, often using repetition and balance, and let gravity shape their form.
• They are delicate but strong, and they hang in space like orbits or falling water.

“I was interested in the idea that if you added wire loops one after another, you could build a form that had volume and structure, but also space and air.”

Look & Discuss (choose 1–2 sculptures to show):

You can find beautiful images and short videos on: ruthasawa.com

Discussion Prompts:

• “What shapes do you see?”
• “Do these sculptures remind you of anything in nature?”
• “How do you think gravity affects these pieces?”
• “What would happen if one side were heavier?”
• “Would you want to walk under or around one? Why?”

Mini Project: Inspired by Ruth Asawa

• Create your own hanging sculpture using loops and balance.
• Use pipe cleaners, yarn, or paper strips to loop and twist into 3D forms.
• Suspend them from straws, hangers, or branches to explore balance.
• Let them hang and watch gravity pull them into shape—just like Asawa’s wire forms.

Reflection Questions:

• “Where do you see gravity working in your sculpture?”
• “How did you make your sculpture balance?”
• “What would happen if you changed the length of one string or made one side heavier?”
• “Does your mobile remind you of anything in space?”
• “How do you think Ruth Asawa planned her art?”

Resources:

A Life Made By Hand: The Story Of Ruth Asawa (picture book)
Ruth Asawa: An Artist Takes Shape (Graphic Novel)