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http://illuminations.nctm.org/LessonDetail.aspx?id=L635

A lesson plan for grades 3 and 5 Mathematics

Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics


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In this lesson, students will use historical nonstandard units to estimate the lengths of common objects and then measure using modern standard units. They will discover the usefulness of standardized measurement units and tools. Illuminations provides an activity sheet and detailed instructions for completing the lesson.

Students will:

  • Become familiar with the language/vocabulary of measurement.
  • Gain an understanding of measuring length by estimating, making comparisons, handling materials to be measured, and measuring with tools.
  • Understand that all measurements are approximations.
  • Understand the need for measuring with standard units.

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.
  • Understand that measurements are approximations and how differences in units affect precision.
  • Understand the need for measuring with standard units and become familiar with standard units in the customary and metric systems.
  • 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 3

  • Goal 2: Measurement - The learner will recognize and use standard units of metric and customary measurement.
    • Objective 2.01: Solve problems using measurement concepts and procedures involving:
      • Elapsed time.
      • Equivalent measures within the same measurement system.
    • 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).

Grade 5

  • Goal 2: Measurement - The learner will recognize and use standard units of metric and customary measurement.
    • Objective 2.01: Estimate the measure of an object in one system given the measure of that object in another system.