Math Moments Make Every Minute Count!
We hope you find this newsletter useful in understanding what your child is focusing on each day in math class. Each edition will contain information and activities related to a specific topic outlined by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (www.nctm.org) to be the foundation for student understanding in math.
Measurement
Focal Points for K-2:
Children use measurable attributes (length, weight) to solve problems by comparing and ordering objects. They begin to understand linear measurement as an iteration of units and begin to use rulers with that understanding. They start to understand the need for equal-length units and units of standard measurement (cm and in).
Focal Points for 3-5:
Students strengthen their understanding of measuring with fractional parts of linear units, and recognize area and perimeter as an attribute of two-dimensional regions, as well as working with solids/ volume.
Suggested Activities for K-2
- Time your child’s activities to help them develop a sense of minute and hour.
- Encourage your child to explore volume using kitchen containers. Which holds the most, the least, the same?
- Have your child measure how many feet it is to their bedroom door from various other places in their room (using their own foot).
- Provide a tape measure or ruler to explore finding the lengths of various objects in the home and to make comparisons.
- Use language that introduces the concept of measurement – longer, shorter, compare, length, weight, height, scale, clock, temperature, thermometer etc.
Suggested Activities for 3-5
- Cook with your child – have them help measure ingredients using various kitchen tools- measuring cups and spoons. Double or half the recipe.
- Weigh different objects and compare the weights.
- Measure various objects in the house or garage in both metric and standard systems.
- Find perimeter (distance around an object) and area of different rooms and objects in the home or yard.
- Use thermometers to keep track of temperatures over a given time – a week or month.
- Use a clock or stopwatch to keep track of time spent on a certain activity.
Playing Improves Mathematics Performance
Playing board games and card games is a great way to develop reasoning ability and practice mathematics skills. Building and working with shapes will improve spatial relationship skills for geometry. Measuring and estimating real objects will help to improve measurement skills. Learning to play a musical instrument also helps with learning mathematics
Playing Improves Mathematics Performance
Playing board games and card games is a great way to develop reasoning ability and practice mathematics skills. Building and working with shapes will improve spatial relationship skills for geometry. Measuring and estimating real objects will help to improve measurement skills. Learning to play a musical instrument also helps with learning mathematics.
Read All About Measuring
Alexander, Used to be Rich Last Sunday- Viorst
Arthur’s Funny Money- Hoban
The Big Buck Adventure- Gill, Tobola & Lin
Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi- Neuschwander
Sir Cumference and the First Round Table- Neuschwander
Sir Cumference and the Sword in the Cone- Neuschwander
Hershey’s Weights and Measures- Pallotta & Bolster
Inchworm and a Half- Pinczes & Enos
Measuring Penny- Leedy
Millions to Measure- Schwartz & Kellogg
Super Sandcastle Saturday- Murphy
Spaghetti and Meatballs for All- Burns
Bigger- Kirk
Ed Mouse finds out about Times of Day- Head & Stower
Math Chef- D’Amico & Drummond
Bunny Money- Wells
Just a Minute –Burns
Me and the Measure of Things- Sweeney
Measuring the Perfect Playhouse- Burstein
Websites for Measurement
National Library of Virtual Manipulatives-Measurement
Rain Forest Math (choose grade and measurement)
Change Maker
Measure It
Math Cats- Convert
Measurement Activities and Games
http://www.gamequarium.com/measurement.html
Personal Benchmarks
Measure your body. About how long is your foot, your stride, your hand span (stretched and with fingers together), the width of your finger, your arm span (finger to finger and finger to nose), the distance around your wrist and around your waist, and your height to waist, to shoulder, and to your head? You might remember some of these personal benchmarks to help you estimate measurements.
Guess the Unit
Find examples of measurements of all types in newspapers, on signs, or in other everyday situations. Use the context of the measures without the label. The task is to have the student predict which units of measure were used. For example, My mom is 65 _______ tall.
Measure that jump!
Outside, have a long-jump contest with your friends. Measure the distance of each jump with chalk marks. Who made the longest jump?
