This lesson develops measuring with inches, feet, and centimeters while using rulers, tape measures, and yardsticks. (Most appropriate for grade levels K-2.)
Lesson Time: 90 minutes
Student Activity 1: This activity gives each group a 1-inch block to use as they compare it to items they find in the classroom, as they move around looking for items that would be “about 1 inch long”.
Student Activity 2 and 3: After discussing the sides of a ruler, and seeing the difference between inches and centimeters, students will work with a partner to measure several specific items and recording the measurement in inches and centimeters.
Student Activity 4: This activity has students working with their partners to identify items that would be measured in inches, centimeters, feet, and yards.
Group work: Students will work in groups of 2-3 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.1: Measure the length of an object by selecting and using appropriate tools such as rulers, yardsticks, meter sticks, and measuring tapes.
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.3: Estimate lengths using units of inches, feet, centimeters, and meters.
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.