Measurement
Children will work with a partner to measure their hands, feet, and smiles to the nearest inch and centimeter. Children will measure cut slips of different colored construction paper from 1 - 12 inches and graph into even-odd, shortest to longest, longest to shortest. Children will record their information, use the information to solve word problems, and create a number sentence.
A lesson plan for grade 2 Mathematics
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Related pages
- Measurement mania: Measurement Mania is a series of lessons that will actively involve students in several measurement activities. Students will gain hands-on practice while working within the classroom environment in small groups.
- Soooooo tall!: Students will build a figure out of Legos. There are two groups, and each group is competing with the other. Students build their tower of Legos as high as they can and then measure with a ruler or yard stick. The tower has to be free-standing so the children have to think of ways to keep the tower standing by itself.
- How long is your smile?: Students will use standard and nonstandard measurement to measure their smile.
Related topics
- Learn more about hands-on, length, mathematics, and measurement.
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Learning outcomes
Students will:
- learn to measure to the nearest inch and centimeter using a ruler.
- learn to measure width and length.
- gain an understanding of the vocabulary terms “horizontal” and “vertical.”
Teacher planning
Time required for lesson
1 hour
Materials/resources
- charts to show horizontal and vertical measurement
- rulers
- yarn
- cut colored slips of construction paper pre-measured 1-12 inches (one set for each partner group)
- two sheets of construction paper per partner group
- worksheets 1-4
Pre-activities
Introduction to the ruler
When measuring in inches use the numbers 1-12, when measuring in centimeters use the numbers 1-30 on the ruler. Measure a book from side to side, in inches, when measuring side to side you are measuring width, introduce the term “horizontal.” Measure the book from top to bottom in inches, when measuring from top to bottom you are measuring length, introduce the term “vertical.”
Related activities for centimeters
Measure various objects in the classroom using both inches and centimeters. Some pre-activities may be done alone and with partners.
Activities
- With a partner, students will measure the width and length of each other’s hands in inches and centimeters. Students will record information on worksheet one. Students will complete computation and problem-solving activities on worksheet one.
- With a partner, students will measure in inches and centimeters the width and length of each other’s foot. Students will record information on worksheet two. Students will complete computation and problem solving activities on worksheet two.
- With a partner and teacher assistance, teacher will need to help measure students’ smiles with yarn. (Cut the yarn for partners.) Students will measure the length of the yarn in centimeters with their ruler. Students will then complete activities on worksheet three.
- With a partner students will measure pre-cut slips of colored construction paper. The measurements will range from 1-12 inches. Measurements will be recorded on the slips of paper. Using these, the students will graph by gluing the slips on a sheet of construction paper, even numbers from shortest to longest and odd numbers from longest to shortest.
Assessment
Teacher observation during the measurement process. Grade worksheets for computation correctness and number sentences. Check graphs to assess knowledge of even/odd numbers and length (short to long - long to short).
Supplemental information
Handout One
Hand Measurement
How long in inches?_____________________
How long in centimeters?________________
How wide in inches?____________________
How wide in centimeters?_______________
Problem Solve: How long and how wide is the hand in inches?
Work Space:
Number Sentence:____________________________
Handout Two
Foot Measurement
How long in inches?______________________
How long in centimeters?_________________
How wide in inches?_____________________
How wide in centimeters?___________________
Problem Solve: How long and how wide is the foot in inches?
Work space:
Number Sentence:_____________________________
Handout Three
Smile Measurement
**** Draw a large circle and put eyes inside, leave a place to glue the smile.
What is the length of the smile in centimeters?__________________________
What is the length of your smile and your partners smile in centimeters?_______________
Number Sentence:____________________________
Handout Four
On a sheet of white paper, turned longways, at the top write:
EVEN NUMBERS
From shortest to longest
Here the students will paste the sheets of paper with even numbers from shortest to longest.
Same format as above for:
ODD NUMBERS
From longest to shortest
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).
- Objective 2.01: Estimate and measure using appropriate units.
