This lesson explains why measurement is important, standard units of measurement (such as inches, pounds, and pints) and non-standard units of measurement (steps, hand spans, cubes, and counters). (Most appropriate for grade levels K-2.)
Lesson Time: 40-45 minutes
Student Activity 1: This activity has students measuring the length of a pencil with paperclips. Student pairs will have different sized paperclips, so that the discussion can be had about the importance of a standardized way of measuring.
Student Activity 2: This activity has student pairs measuring different objects, all by lining up pre-cut 1-inch squares
Group work: Students will work in pairs of 2 students. In order to save time, teachers are asked to create the groups before our Wizard arrives.
Math Standards:
K.MD.2: Directly compare two objects with a measurable attribute in common to see which object has “more of” or “less of” the attribute and describe the difference.
1.MD.1: Order three objects by length; compare the lengths of two objects indirectly by using a third object.
1.MD.2: Express the length of an object as a whole number of length units by laying multiple copies of a shorter object (the length unit) end to end; understand that the length measurement of an object is the number of same-size length units that span it with no gaps or overlaps.
2.MD.2: Measure the length of an object twice, using length units of different lengths for the two measurements; describe how the two measurements relate to the size of the unit chosen.
2.MD.4: Measure to determine how much longer one object is than another, expressing the length difference in terms of a standard-length unit.
2.MD.9: Generate measurement data by measuring lengths of several objects to the nearest whole unit or by making repeated measurements of the same object.