Printer Friendly Version

Linear Measurement 

Outcomes: Students will estimate and measure length in non-standard units.

Background:  This is an introductory lesson to measurement; while measuring in non-standard units is not a Grade Four Outcome it is worthwhile as an introduction.

Materials: a pencil

Learning Activities: 1.  Students choose a pencil to use, before being told what the activity is.

2. Instruction- "Using the pencil you chose estimate the length of at least three different objects, including the distance across your desk, the height of your chair and the width of a scribbler.  Write down your estimates."

3. "Now flip your pencil end to end and count how many pencils long each object really is. Record your answers."

4. As a class compare the results.  Did everyone get the same number of "pencils" for objects that seem to be the same length? How can the differences be explained?

5. In your scribbler write a plan to explain how we could use a "pencil" as a unit of measurement so that everyone would get the same result.

Evaluation: Check the answers written in response to number 5. Does the student understand that having units that are equal in length is necessary for measurements to be consistent.