LEARN NC

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

Sizing up

http://illuminations.nctm.org/LessonDetail.aspx?ID=L593

A lesson plan for Grades 3–4 Mathematics

Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

About this resource

Appropriate grades
3–4
Subjects
mathematics (measurement)
Provider
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

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Students will use measurement to investigate where clothing sizes come from, and to explore how sizes differ between companies and countries. The teacher reads the book Jim and the Beanstalk by Raymond Briggs, a variation of the familiar Jack and the Beanstalk in order to introduce the concept of sizing to students. Students work in groups to record estimates of their heights, chests, waists and hips using an activity sheet provided by Illuminations. The lesson plan provides links to popular online clothing catalogues that students can use to compare different sizing charts.

Students will:

  • Measure height, chest, waist, and hip.
  • Compare their measurements to sizing charts found in catalogs.
  • Explain how to choose a size when measurements do not match sizing charts exactly.

This lesson focuses on NCTM Standards and Expectations:

  • Select and apply appropriate standard units and tools to measure length, area, volume, weight, time, temperature, and the size of angles.
  • Understand that measurements are approximations and how differences in units affect precision.

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.
  • Goal 4: Data Analysis and Probability - The learner will understand and use data and simple probability concepts.
    • Objective 4.01: Collect, organize, analyze, and display data (including circle graphs and tables) to solve problems.

Grade 4

  • Goal 4: Data Analysis and Probability - The learner will understand and use graphs, probability, and data analysis.
    • Objective 4.04: Design experiments and list all possible outcomes and probabilities for an event.