Let's Measure

To explore measurement.
 
Materials:

paper clips, links or fish crackers, orange pattern blocks, a drawing of a Leopard Shark (six feet long), computer with Internet
 

Activities:

1.  Divide children into groups of two.
2.  Ask each group to measure the length of a Leopard Shark with two units of measure.
3.  Ask groups to compare their results.  Did everyone record the same results?  Why or why not?
4.  Have each group measure the Leopard Shark again using the orange pattern blocks.  Point out that each block is an inch unit. Explain that the inch unit allows you to measure objects consistently, so that you can compare results.
 5. Learn more about measurement at Web Unit Measurement 
6. Graph results using spreadsheet application or online at Create a Graph
7. Take an online shark quiz at Shark Safari
8. Continue activity by researching other types of sharks and recording and comparing their measurement on a Shark Measurement Table. Students will then research lengths of various kinds of cars and complete Car Measurement Table- students compare shark lengths and car lengths. Students can answer questions such as:

a. How many Hondas would you need to line up bumper to bumper to match the length of a great white shark?
b. How many times longer is a Mako shark than an angel shark?
c. Write a question that asks about the length of a shark versus the another object, person, or animal.

Visit Kelly's Blue Book. to get information on car lengths and so on.
 
Assessment:

Each student will measure objects around the room.

Home Learning:

Research the Shark Research Lab to find the size of other sharks.  Examples: Wobbegong- six feet, Thresher-twenty feet, Tiger- ten feet, Hammerhead- fifteen feet.  Record on paper and bring to class to share. Create a Shark Measurement Table with shark names and lengths
 
Extension Activity 1:

        Create a display around the room or in the hallway to compare shark lengths. Students can draw, cut to length, and color their home learning findings on butcher paper.

Extension Activity 2:

     Expand above length activity to include the weight of various sharks and cars. Compare and contrast. Use Shark and Car Weight Table.

Answer questions such as:

Is the weight of three angel sharks greater than, less than, or equal to the weight of a great white shark?

If you added the weight of one hammerhead, one saw, and one blue shark together, would that be greater than, less than, or equal to the combined weights of 10 dogfish sharks?

Write a question that uses the weights of the different sharks to make a comparison.

Write a question that uses the weights of the different cars to make a comparison.

Field Trip:

Go on a virtual field trip to Shark Island