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Making Measurement Sense in levels 3 to 5 of the Curriculum. Sandra Cathcart. Today we will: Look at what is important when we teach measurement Consider some new ideas to try Revisit some old ideas. When we have completed a unit on measurement do our students Measure accurately
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Making Measurement Sense in levels 3 to 5 of the Curriculum Sandra Cathcart
Today we will: • Look at what is important when we teach measurement • Consider some new ideas to try • Revisit some old ideas.
When we have completed a unit on measurement do our students • Measure accurately • Know what to measure with • Know how accurate to be • Know why they are measuring – have a reason • Can estimate • Can use the correct language • Be able to solve a problem using all of the above. • Have had some fun!
Attributes can be: • a) spatial eg length, area, volume • b) physical eg weight (mass), temperature • c) No connection with physical objects eg time • Measurement units are used to quantify the attributes of objects. • To understand each attribute students need to move through stages of understanding. • From understanding the attribute concept • – what is length? • – to understanding what a unit of length looks like and how it is put together • - to connecting the idea that what you measure with is determined by what you are measuring.
Starters for a measurement lesson • 1.The answer is 24. (cm, m, mm2) • What could the question be? • How might we extend this? • 2 Raj said that he used 2 smaller shapes both the same to cover his large shape. • If his large shape looked like this what could the 2 smaller shapes be? • 12cm x 8cm • 3 The difference in the areas of 2 rectangles is 32cm2. • What might the widths and lengths of the rectangles be? Perimeters? • 4 The answer to my question is 48 cubic metres. What might the question be? • 5 Measurement Bingo • 6 Write as a single number: 0.2 + 9/10 (write as a fr/dec/%) • 3 ones and 4 tenths • 24 Tenths and 24 tens • 4 hundreds and 82 tenths • 7 Estimation
Conversion Bingo Pick any 9 and fill in the grid. • 110cm • 12km • 800m • 0.74 m • 3m • 1.1m • 2.9cm • 600cm • 9.6cm • 1200m • 1.25m • 230cm • 0.7m • 40cm • 28.5cm • 1.8m • 0.16m • 115cm • 280mm • 3800m Use in conjunction with conversion/area/volume loopies.
Estimation – this needs to be taught In all measurement activities emphasize the use of approximate language (continuous/discrete) Develop benchmarks -- make a square metre/cubic metre Use “chunking” where appropriate Use subdivisions Iterate a unit mentally or physically eg using your stride to measure a driveway. Accept a range Sometimes have students give a range of measures Include all attributes in estimation Do estimation quickies and scavenger hunts Use objects that will be reasonably close in attribute. Move to using a measure and thinking about accuracy.
Must do: At all levels students need to measure, measure, measure! Show students how accuracy is important.
Making a square metre and cubic metre Then use these to estimate. Each student makes a 10cm x 10cm square and labels the sides (10cm/100mm/0.1m) Also label the Area mm2, etc A very visual tool to have on the wall.
Blog.mymeyer.com Purposeful Practice : August 5th, 2014 by Dan Meyer Practice may not always be fun, but it can be purposeful http://blog.mrmeyer.com/category/3acts/ Candy dandies – which uses least ribbon/least paper?
Changing Areas changing Perimeters
As you go from left to right, the area of the shapes must increase.As you go from top to bottom, the perimeter of the shapes must increase.All the shapes in the middle column must have the same area.All the shapes on the middle row must have the same perimeter. Find the area and perimeter of each
Some questions for you What do you notice about the shapes on the top row of the grid? What do you notice about the shapes with the smallest perimeters If two rectangles have the same area but different perimeters how can you decide which has the greatest perimeter.
For the smart ones What do you have to decide first?
What is the first question that comes to mind?
An nzmaths activity – body measurements An investigation in 8 sections – could take several classes to complete. In this project, you will collect bone measurements in order to explore relationships that can be used to predict the height of a person. Level 4/5
Some problems to solve Car boxes Give out a toy car. Students are to make a box to fit it in and then design a carton to take 100 snugly. All documented. Extend to costs etc. Fish tank My fish tank is old . I need a new one. My tank stand will only hold …..kg. if I buy a new one 20x40x10cm and fill it with water will the stand hold it? Square pegs Is there more space around a square peg in a round hole or a round peg in a square hole?
Comparing Tubes Each student gets 2 pieces of A4 paper. They need to make two cylinder tubes A long fold one and a short fold one. Stand them up. Decide which cube holds the most. Estimate first. They need to prove it at least three different ways. Try without formula first.
Arriving at School A Mathematical team Game This covers Distance Speed and Time Level 4 Best played at the end of the topic when students are more familiar with concepts From a book by author Vivienne Lucas