Measuring Mania

Measuring is always one of our last units of the year, but one of the most fun! We started by measuring using non standard units. I explained to my kiddies that when you measure, you are using a repeated unit. You can measure using anything at all (barrettes, noodles, pennies, hands, etc.) I told them we are going to use paper clips and cubes to measure today. I told students when they measure, they have to make sure they measure from one end to the other end. We sat in a circle on the carpet and I showed them how to measure an object with paper clips and cubes. Then I picked a few more students to use paper clips and cubes to measure some more objects. We also played a game on the board where they had to estimate and measure objects with paper clips and cubes. Students went back to their seats and worked with a partner to measure a pencil, eraser, their hand, an edge of their journal, a crayon, a puzzle piece, and a marker with paper clips and cubes. Finally, they each measured more things with paper clips and cubes. They had a blast! After spring break, they will use a ruler to measure to the nearest inch and centimeter :)