Measure It!

Introduction: Read the book How Big is a Foot? This will encourage students to begin thinking about measurement vocabulary before lesson begins.

Progression:

Show students a ruler. Pose the question: Why do we use rulers? Example responses: to measure things, to know how tall we are, to build things, etc.

Direct students to a shelf in the room. Say to students: I have decided I want to move this shelf back to my house. What will I need to know about my car before I can move the shelf? (lead students to understanding you would need to know the measurements before being able to fit it in your car).

Give each student a ruler and pass out several classroom items (marker, stapler, scissors, eraser, paper, sticky notes, etc.) Walk through how to measure items.

- Always start at the 0 - not at the end of the ruler. We can measure in inches or centimeters.

- Where the item length ends, is how long the item is. If the item stretches from 0 inches to 6 inches, the item is 6 inches long.

- Choose an item I have provided and work with the person beside you to measure the item in both inches and centimeters.

Pass out the Measuring Worksheet (found in lesson resources). Students can work independently or with a partner to complete the worksheet.

Begin the project:

1. Students will be provided with construction paper, notebook paper, scrap paper, tape, rulers, and poster board.
2. With a partner, they will create 3-5 shapes that must have all sides measured in the same metric unit.
3. For example, a triangle with all sides measured in inches.
4. The shape must have all sides measured and labeled.
5. They will attach shapes to poster board.
6. They will be able to use centimeters and/or inches for their project.
7. With the 3-5 shapes, a picture must be created.
8. See example in Lesson Resources.
9. Posters can be presented to the class.

Differentiation: Decrease the number of shapes. Begin with shapes that have whole-rounded measurements. (Ex. instead of measuring a shape that is 2 1/3 of a unit, begin with a shape that can be easily identified with whole number measurements.)

Extension: Increase the number of shapes. Have students measure the same shape in multiple units.

Worksheets can be graded upon completion and by accuracy.

Group projects can be graded upon completion of lesson.