Metric Measurement Lab: Sweet Dimensions
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Scientific Thinking Standard I: Understand the processes of scientific investigations and use inquiry and scientific ways of observing, experimenting, predicting, and validating to think critically.
Performance Objective: Students will be able to measure a box in 1, 2, and 3 dimensions. They will calculate area and volume by multiplying lengths.
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Background Information: Meters, liters and grams are all tied to the same physical reference: a water cube that measures 1 centimeter on each side. Students will appreciate this elegant simplicity. A parallel measuring system will be based on sugar cubes. The students will use them to develop a concrete understanding of length, area, volume and mass. Ten lessons later they will substitute the idea of water cubes and slip painlessly into metrics. Meters, liters and grams all become old friends as the students make rulers, calibrate measuring cups and improvise gram balances.
Demonstration: The students are asked to identify each dimension below as the teacher acts it out. Then she will call out dimensions for the students to act out. Students will have lots of fun with this active review.
1. Dimension = Width, Length, Height or Depth: pantomime stretching out invisible string.
2. Dimension= Area: pantomime wiping an invisible, flat surface.
3. Dimension = Volume: Move hands in all three directions to occupy 3-D space.
Activity: Students will work in pairs to complete this lab. They will use the illustration that follows (Sweet Dimensions). Students will extend the investigation: measure a paper grocery bag in sugar cubes and other items of their choice. Each team will choose at least 4 items to measure. They will write down their answers on the student worksheet below. They will then compare their results with the other groups.
Materials:
· Two 3x5 inch index cards
· clear tape
· Sugar cubes (not bricks). Use C&H or equivalent one-teaspoon cubes, measuring 5/8 inch (16 mm) on each edge.
Procedure:
Step 1. Fold the cards evenly in half. Match and secure edges with tape. Prop open into a “box”.
Step 2. All dimensions come out about even. Students can stack sugar cubes to find answers, or multiply the sides to find area and volume.
Effective Questions:
1. How many dimensions can you measure using sugar cubes?
______________________________________________________________________.
2. By looking around the classroom, what are some other items you could measure?
______________________________________________________________________.
Scientific Thinking Standard I: Understand the processes of scientific investigations and use inquiry and scientific ways of observing, experimenting, predicting, and validating to think critically.
Performance Objective: Students will be able to measure a box in 1, 2, and 3 dimensions. They will calculate area and volume by multiplying lengths.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Background Information: Meters, liters and grams are all tied to the same physical reference: a water cube that measures 1 centimeter on each side. Students will appreciate this elegant simplicity. A parallel measuring system will be based on sugar cubes. The students will use them to develop a concrete understanding of length, area, volume and mass. Ten lessons later they will substitute the idea of water cubes and slip painlessly into metrics. Meters, liters and grams all become old friends as the students make rulers, calibrate measuring cups and improvise gram balances.
Demonstration: The students are asked to identify each dimension below as the teacher acts it out. Then she will call out dimensions for the students to act out. Students will have lots of fun with this active review.
1. Dimension = Width, Length, Height or Depth: pantomime stretching out invisible string.
2. Dimension= Area: pantomime wiping an invisible, flat surface.
3. Dimension = Volume: Move hands in all three directions to occupy 3-D space.
Activity: Students will work in pairs to complete this lab. They will use the illustration that follows (Sweet Dimensions). Students will extend the investigation: measure a paper grocery bag in sugar cubes and other items of their choice. Each team will choose at least 4 items to measure. They will write down their answers on the student worksheet below. They will then compare their results with the other groups.
Materials:
· Two 3x5 inch index cards
· clear tape
· Sugar cubes (not bricks). Use C&H or equivalent one-teaspoon cubes, measuring 5/8 inch (16 mm) on each edge.
Procedure:
Step 1. Fold the cards evenly in half. Match and secure edges with tape. Prop open into a “box”.
Step 2. All dimensions come out about even. Students can stack sugar cubes to find answers, or multiply the sides to find area and volume.
Effective Questions:
1. How many dimensions can you measure using sugar cubes?
______________________________________________________________________.
2. By looking around the classroom, what are some other items you could measure?
______________________________________________________________________.
Student Worksheet:
Sweet Dimensions |
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Item Name |
Dimensions |
Number of Sugar Cubes |
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(TOPScience, 2013)