
Measuring Up
This lesson will allow students to demonstrate knowledge of length as compared to other objects.
Grade Level: K - 1st
Subject: Math
Length of Time: 15-20 Minutes
Common Core Alignment
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.1.MD.A.1 - Order three objects by length; compare the lengths of two objects indirectly by using a third object.
Objectives & Outcomes
Students will measure objects based on a set object (such as a pipe cleaner or ruler)
Materials Needed
Random lengths of string (5 to 10 per student), pipe cleaners (or rulers)
Procedure
Opening to Lesson
- Explain to students that sometimes we do not have a ruler handy, but can still measure or compare lengths of items based on something standard.
- In this case the standard is a pipe cleaner.
- Give every student a pipe cleaner.
Body of Lesson
- Give students ten different lengths of string.
- Tell them to use the pipe cleaner as a guide to see which ones are shorter or longer and then arrange each length on their desk from smallest to largest (shortest to longest).
Closing
- Check student work.
- As a challenge activity have students join in groups of four and arrange all the lengths in order from longest to shortest.
Assessment & Evaluation
The students will accurately arrange pieces of string by length using only a pipe cleaner as a comparison measure.
Modification & Differentiation
Special needs students may be given extended time or fewer pieces for comparison.
Related Lesson Plans
Ocean Animals
This lesson is designed to help students identify and sort common words in basic categories.
Skittles Graph
Students will learn to create a small bar graph using candy for information.
Even or Odd Nature Walk
Students will do a nature walk to find things in nature that are grouped in pairs that are odd or even.
Graphing With Insects
This lesson is designed to teach students to draw a picture graph and a bar graph (with single-unit scale) to represent a data set with up to four categories. Plus, solve simple put-together, take-apart, and compare problems.