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K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Measuring with Teacher's Foot

http://illuminations.nctm.org/LessonDetail.aspx?ID=L67

A lesson plan for grades K–2 Mathematics

Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics


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In this lesson, one of a seven-part unit from Illuminations titled “Going Places: Measuring and Mapping,” students use nonstandard units to measure the distance between objects found in their classroom. They create a nonstandard unit by using an outline of the teacher’s foot and cutting around it to use as a “measurer.” Students generate a list of four or five objects in the classroom from which they will measure the distance to their workspace.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Mathematics (2004)

Grade 1

  • Goal 2: Measurement - The learner will use non-standard units of measure and tell time.
    • Objective 2.01: For given objects:
      • Select an attribute (length, capacity, mass) to measure (use non-standard units).
      • Develop strategies to estimate size.
      • Compare, using appropriate language, with respect to the attribute selected.
  • Goal 3: Geometry - The learner will identify, describe, draw, and build basic geometric figures.
  • Goal 5: Algebra - The learner will demonstrate an understanding of classification and patterning.
    • Objective 5.03: Create and extend patterns, identify the pattern unit, and translate into other forms.

Grade 2

  • Goal 2: Measurement - The learner will recognize and use standard units of metric and customary measurement.
    • Objective 2.01: Estimate and measure using appropriate units.
      • Length (meters, centimeters, feet, inches, yards).
      • Temperature (Fahrenheit).
  • Goal 5: Algebra - The learner will recognize and represent patterns and simple mathematical relationships.
    • Objective 5.01: Identify, describe, translate, and extend repeating and growing patterns.

Kindergarten

  • Goal 2: Measurement - The learner will explore concepts of measurement.
    • Objective 2.01: Compare attributes of two objects using appropriate vocabulary (color, weight, height, width, length, texture).
  • Goal 3: Geometry - The learner will explore the concepts of geometry.
    • Objective 3.03: Model and use directional and positional vocabulary.
    • Objective 3.04: Complete simple spatial visualization tasks and puzzles.
  • Goal 5: Algebra - The learner will model simple patterns and sort objects.
    • Objective 5.02: Create and extend patterns with actions, words, and objects.