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

Body measurements

http://illuminations.nctm.org/LessonDetail.aspx?ID=L659

A lesson plan for grades 2–3 Mathematics

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People come in all different sizes and can be measured in lots of different ways. In this lesson, students can make their own fascinating discoveries and become aware of the concepts of ratio and proportion as they relate to measuring features of their own bodies. Illuminations provides an activity sheet, links to helpful web resources, and detailed instructions for completing the lesson.

Students will:

  • Use strips of paper or measuring tapes to measure length and/or circumference of various parts of their own bodies.
  • Analyze the measurements for relationships such as equal to, twice the length, half the length, and one and a half times the length.
  • Compare measurement data with other students’ data.

NCTM Standards and Expectations:

  • Understand such attributes as length, area, weight, volume, and size of angle and select the appropriate type of unit for measuring each attribute.
  • Select and apply appropriate standard units and tools to measure length, area, volume, weight, time, temperature, and the size of angles.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Mathematics (2004)

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).

Grade 3

  • Goal 2: Measurement - The learner will recognize and use standard units of metric and customary measurement.
    • Objective 2.02: Estimate and measure using appropriate units.
      • Capacity (cups, pints, quarts, gallons, liters).
      • Length (miles, kilometers).
      • Mass (ounces, pounds, grams, kilograms).
      • Temperature (Fahrenheit, Celsius).