Sunday, May 5, 2013

Measurement Activities

Measure It!
Let your students pick a measurement tool  & estimate/measure 5 objects in your classroom.
 Measure a Friend!
Candy bar measuring
rida3D Collage: Measuring
Super Cute Measuring activity from E is for Exploring.
Fun Stuff!
Click picture to visit blog.
 

Give kids different colors of construction paper. They cut 1 inch (width) strips. Then, they use a ruler and cut their strips different lengths (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 inches) and manipulate them into different designs, creating a 3D collage. Have kids write their measurements next to each paper strip.
  
Another Great Idea from E is for Exploring.
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Graphing - Who can blow a bubble?
(have kids write how to blow a bubble)
Geometry / 3D solids - Shape of the gum out of the wrapper (cylinder). Shape of the gum when blowing a bubble (sphere).
Measuring - Measure the length of the gum before and after being chewed. Have kids stretch their chewed gum out (as far as they can) and lay it on a piece of wax paper (make sure they have clean hands!).

States of Matter
solid - gum out of wrapper
liquid - saliva when chewed
gas - blowing a bubble
solid - chewed gum
Ask kids if they think the gum underwent a physical or chemical change. 
Answer - Physical change, there was nothing new created. Matter wasn't destroyed. 
Next, have them write about how their gum physically changed (density, color, and temperature). 
What made the gum get soft? Was it the saliva? Have kids place their chewed gum in ice water (or take a drink of ice water). They will notice that the gum will get hard. Does temperature play a role? 
Mass
Predict: Will un-chewed, chewed, and chewed exposed to water have the same mass?
Lay the gum on a square of wax paper and compare it to a piece of un-chewed gum. Then, weigh gum that has been chewed and then exposed to cold water. Did they all weigh the same?
Writing
Have kids invent a new flavor of gum!
Design a shape for the gum.
Design a logo.
Design the packaging.
What will they call their gum?
Where can you buy it?
How much will it cost?

One Inch Tall

 Great Idea from E is for Explore.

 
Read the poem "One Inch Tall" from Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein. Then, pass out the "one inch tall rulers" and try to find something that measures an inch! What could you do around the classroom if you were only one inch tall? Kids use the ruler as a guide. What could they do if they were 2, 3, 4, or 5 inches tall?!
Friday, May 11, 2012

Fruit By The Foot Ruler

Found this on E is for Explore.
Before you stuff that fruit snack in your mouth, measure! Go around the classroom, lunchroom, or your house and find objects that are a foot long. How many legos or crayons does it take to make a foot, explore and find out!