Lesson Five- Measurement

Objectives:

• Students will measure the length of objects using nonstandard units.

• Students will use nonstandard units appropriately (for example cubes, paper clips, etc)

• Students count up to or more objects using verbal names and one-to-one correspondence.

• Students will write numerals to 10 or more.

• Students know how to communicate measurement concepts.

Time Required:

• One hour session 

Vocabulary:

• measure

• length

Materials:

• Connecting cubes

• Large Zip Lock Bags

• Classroom objects of various lengths, such as pencils, markers, crayons, paintbrushes, clothespins, straws, plastic spoons, etc.

• Recording Sheet for students

• Measuring Penny by Loreen Leedy

• Any computer program with Clip Art

Procedures:

• Read story Measuring Penny   by Loreen Leedy.  As you read story, stop in different areas of story and discuss how Lisa decides to measure her dog, Penny.  Emphasize on the pages that show non-standard units being used, such as when Penny's tail and ear are measured.
• Explain to students that they will learn how to measure an object to find out how long it is.
• Show students a connecting cube and explain to students that they will use cubes as tools to measure different items.
• Model how to measure a marker by making a cube train about as long as the marker.  Stress the importance of starting at one end of the marker and take away or add cubes as needed to match the length of the marker as exactly as possible.
• Ask volunteers to come up and measure the length of different objects using the cubes.  Record the measurements in a chart (you should have a chart ready with a picture of the different items that you will measure with class).
• Have students get into groups of 3 or 4.   Give out plastic zip lock bags with different objects inside and cubes for students to measure in their groups.  Each person in the group can have a job.  One person measures the length using the cubes, another person can count the cubes aloud, one person can draw a picture of an object and another person writes the number of cubes used.  Students can switch roles and repeat with all the objects in the baggie.

Evaluation:

• Observe students as they measure items in their groups.  Were students able to start and stop measuring the objects at the right place?  Are students able to explain how they used the cubes to measure the length of the objects.  Observe student interaction/cooperation in groups.  You can also evaluate their responses on the recording sheet.

Extension Activity:

• Using any program that has Clip Art, have students choose a few pictures they would like to measure.  Have them print out the pictures and use their cubes to measure.  Students should record their answers beside the picture.

Home Learning:

• Prepare a baggie with cubes and a Recording Sheet for students to take home and measure five objects from the kitchen (for example, fork, spoon, cup, salt shaker, etc.).