My feet or your feet?? (Math 1512)

 

                                                                                                                                                         

                                                                   In the house and on the street,

How many, many feet you meet.

Up in the air feet

Over a chair feet

More and more feet

Twenty-four feet.

Here come more and more..................................and more feet!

Left foot. Right foot.

Feet. Feet. Feet.

Oh how many feet you meet.

Measurement involves a comparison of an attribute of an item or situation with a unit that has the same attribute.  Lengths are compared to units of length, areas to units of area, time to units of time and so on.  Before anything can be measured meaningfully, it is necessary to understand the attribute to be      measured. (definition from:http://www.teachervision.fen.com/measurement/printable/56860.html?detoured=1)

Some basic measurement terminology:

*attribute- the aspects that can be measured

*length- the amount of distance between two points or objects

*area- the amount of space that needs to be covered

*volume- the amount of space that needs to be filled

*mass- how heavy or light something is

*temperature- how warm or cold something is

*time- how long it takes for something to happen

Choosing the type of Measure and Unit:

-distance between two towns- length

-a person's height- length

-carpet needed to cover the floor- area

-amount of land owned by a farmer- area

-amount of water to fill a swimming pool- volume

-amount of liquid medication for a child- volume

-amount of weight in an elevator- mass

-how warm it is outside- temperature

 

To measure something, one must perform three steps:

1. Decide on the attribute to be measured.

2. Select a unit that has that attribute.

3. Compare the units, by filling, covering, matching, or some other method with the attribute of the object being measured. 

In order to consistently measure something we must use a standard unit of measurement, that is, measures must mean the same thing to everybody.  Two standard measurement systems that have been developed and agreed upon are the English system an metric system.  

This website gives great information and illustrations on these two systems.....Enjoy!

*English System

*Metric System  

Teaching measurement is a very complicated lesson.  I spent quite a bit of time looking through this site created by IXL.  The lessons are divided up age-appropriately and I am amazed as to the amount of information that is taught at even the youngest of ages.  This is the section specified for first grade.
*Measurement- First Grade.....with resources like this available I am excited to have a classroom full of students roaming the classroom with rulers and thermometers in hand!