Measurement Centers

During a center based activity groups of students will rotate around the classroom practicing non-standard unit of measurement concepts. In addition, they will have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with measuring with rulers and will participate in a lesson about capacity.

A lesson plan for grades 1–2 Mathematics

By Amy Kershaw

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Learning outcomes

Students will:

• demonstrate the ability to use a variety of non-standard unit of measurements to determine length.
• apply knowlege of longest and shortest and compare items to each other.
• be introduced to capacity and will be able to recognize vocabulary.
• use an inch ruler to determine the length in inches.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

45 minutes

Materials/resources

• pencils for each student
• paper clips
• 8 rulers
• 6 foot long pieces of string
• paper cups
• pitcher, milk container, large glass, water
• various items to measure (pencils, fork, spoon, books, shoe, paper scissors, unifix cubes, glue stick, string, 5 different lengths of construction paper)
• teacher created worksheet (related to items measured)

Technology resources

None

Pre-activities

The activity is a good culmination to a unit of measurement to review and practice concepts learned.

Activities

Students will be divided into groups of four. Each group will participate in one of the five teacher created stations for seven minutes and complete the designated task in that area. The teacher will describe each of the five stations around the room. Students will be shown the worksheet and have explained the expectations of each station.

The teacher will set a timer for seven minutes to keep the students on task and know when to change stations. Time is provided for replacing items as found and changing stations.

Station 1: Shortest to Longest

• Group 1: Five strips of construction paper at varying lengths. Students will lay the strips of construction paper out and arrange them in ascending order of shortest to longest.
• Group 2: Students will take the six items provided by the teacher in the center and arrange them in ascending order of shortest to longest. (Example, pencil, scissors, paper clip, unifix cubes, ruler, spoon).
• Group 3: Students will repeat the process of arranging items in order as they did with the items in group 2.

Station 2: Measuring with paper clips (Non-Standard unit of measurement)

• Students will practice measuring items with paper clips and record their data on the worksheet provided.
• Students will arrive at station two to find a variety of items to measure with paper clips. They will determine the number of paper clips it takes to measure the length of a spoon, glue stick, string, pencil, book, etc.

Station 3: Measuring in Inches

• Students will practice measuring items with an inch ruler and record their data on the worksheet provided.
• Students will enter the station and measure five different items with a ruler to determine the items length in inches. Students will measure a pencil, fork, book, shoe and a piece of paper.

Station 4: Measuring in Feet

• Students will practice measuring items in feet.
• Students will enter the station and get a piece of string that is a foot long.
• Students will measure the length of the items listed on their worksheet, counting how many times they used the string to complete the length of that item.
• Students will record their data on their worksheet.
• Students will be asked to measure the length of the room, the teachers desk, the chalkboard and the width of the door. They may work in pairs having each student hold one end of the string.

Station 5: Capacity

• Students will sit with the teacher as she explains capacity.
• Students will estimate how much liquid is in a large container and how many paper cups will be filled.
• Teacher will show the students in the group a pitcher of water and ask them how many cups will be filled by the pitcher. Students will hold a cup while the teacher fills them with the water from the pitcher. Students will count each cup as it is filled and determine if their estimate was correct.
• The process will be repeated with a large glass of water and a milk container.

Assessment

Students will be evaluated:

• the completion and accuracy of their data worksheet.
• teacher observation in the capacity center.
• observation of participation and accuracy in the centers.

Supplemental information

Worksheet listing the items in stations 3, 4 & 5.

Related websites

N/A

Comments

I find this lesson gives the students the opportunity to practice measurement concepts through a hands-on activity that they enjoy. During their station times I am able to work in a small group to explain the concept of capacity and answer questions more easily. This activity works best if there is an assistant or volunteer to monitor the first four stations and check students work in station one.