Measure Up!

As we were reviewing for our upcoming math TAKS test, I noticed that the kids were having a really hard time understanding the different units of measurement. How long is a yard? Is that longer or shorter than a meter? How does an inch compare with a centimeter? I can understand their confusion - these units are familiar to me as an adult because I have references that help me think about each in a specific context. For example, when I think of a kilometer, I remember the time I studied abroad in Europe and had to translate the speed limit signs from miles per hour to kilometers per hour. I know how long a meter is because I ran the 100 meter hurdles at track meets as a high schooler. Our students aren't born with these frames of reference - we must teach them! I made up hand motions and words to help the kids remember each unit of measurement.

I taught the class each motion and phrase:

• Meter - arms stretched as wide as possible (like you're seeing a long lost friend or relative and you're going to "meet her" with a hug!) The kids say "Hi grandma!"
• Yard - Kids extend their arms straight out, then bend arms at the elbows, like a robot. Kids say (in a monotone "robot" voice) "I have a robot in my yard" * I realize that this measure isn't exactly a yard, however, I want the kids to understand that a yard and a meter are similar in length and a meter is longer. Hopefully this motion will help!
• Foot - Kids show their bicep muscle and say "touchdown". (The distance from your shoulder blade to your elbow is about a foot) They are supposed to think of a strong football player showing his muscles. : )
• Inch - Kids curl their index finger like a hook. "They say "ARRRG - Captain Inch!" (The top of a curled index finger is roughly an inch)
• Centimeter - Kids hold up their pinky finger and say in a high-pitch voice "Itty-bitty-centimeter". (The width of your pinky is about a centimeter)

You may be thinking... What about a kilometer, a mile, a decimeter, a millimeter? I know, there are many units of measurement we didn't cover in this game. My purpose was to help the kids with the units of measurement they most often confuse and also those most likely to appear on a TAKS test. We will have to add more motions for the other units later!

After we learned the motions as a class and played a little bit of "Bates Says", they were ready for face-offs! I showed a card naming a unit of measurement and the pair of kids dueled to find out who could remember the motion and phrase the quickest.

Foot - Touchdown!

Itty - Bitty - Centimeter

Captain Inch - ARRGH!

I have a robot in my yard!

After the kids became familiar with each unit of measurement, we played a sorting game as a class. Using pictures of familiar objects, we decided which unit of measurement we might use to measure that object.Would you measure a basketball goal in meters, yards or feet? This activity sparked interesting discussion about units of measurement and allowed the kids to really compare them and use them in real life situations. I hope that this activity will give them an experience to use as they learn more about measurement.