Log In

Lesson plan of Units of Measurement

Math

Original Teachy

Units of Measurement

Objectives (5 - 7 minutes)

  1. Understand the Concept of Units of Measurement: Students will be able to define what units of measurement are, and why they are necessary for making comparisons and quantifying objects or events.

  2. Master the Common Units of Measurement: Through this lesson, students will acquire a solid grasp of the most commonly used units of measurement, both in the metric system (such as meters, liters, and grams) and the customary system (such as feet, gallons, and ounces).

  3. Apply Units of Measurement in Real-Life Contexts: The lesson will also focus on how students can apply their understanding of units of measurement in everyday life situations, such as cooking, shopping, or estimating distances.

Secondary Objectives:

  • Develop Mathematical Vocabulary: Throughout the lesson, students will be exposed to a variety of mathematical terms related to units of measurement. This will help them improve their mathematical vocabulary and communication skills.

  • Enhance Problem-Solving Skills: By engaging in hands-on activities and problem-solving tasks related to units of measurement, students will develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

  • Foster Collaborative Learning: The flipped classroom methodology will encourage students to work in groups and discuss their understanding of the topic, promoting a collaborative learning environment.

Introduction (8 - 10 minutes)

  1. Review of Previous Knowledge: The teacher begins the lesson by recalling the basic concepts of measurement that students have learned in previous grades. The teacher might ask questions like "Can anyone remember what 'measurement' means in mathematics?" or "What are some examples of units of measurement that you have come across before?" This step is crucial for ensuring that students have the necessary foundation to understand the new topic.

  2. Problem Situations as Starters: The teacher then presents two problem situations to the class that will serve as the starting point for the development of the theory. For instance, the teacher could ask, "If we want to compare the heights of two trees, how can we do it?" or "If we want to know how much water a cup can hold, how would we measure it?" This will grab the students' attention and prepare them for the upcoming topic.

  3. Real-World Applications: The teacher emphasizes the importance of understanding units of measurement by discussing their relevance in everyday life. The teacher may say, "Whether you're cooking, building, or shopping, you'll often need to measure things. That's where units of measurement come in handy!" This contextualization will help students understand the practical significance of the topic.

  4. Introduction of the Topic: The teacher introduces the topic of "Units of Measurement" by explaining that different quantities can be measured using different units, and these units help us make comparisons and quantify objects or events. The teacher might use visuals (like rulers, scales, or measuring cups) to illustrate this point, making the introduction more engaging and interactive.

  5. Curiosity-Inducing Facts: To pique the students' interest, the teacher shares a couple of fun facts related to units of measurement. For instance, the teacher might say, "Did you know that the world's tallest man, Robert Wadlow, was 8 feet 11 inches tall? That's almost three times as tall as an average adult!" or "In the US, we use the gallon to measure liquids. Do you know how many gallons are in an Olympic-sized swimming pool? It's about 660,000 gallons!" These facts will help create a sense of wonder and curiosity about the topic.

  6. Transition to the Flipped Classroom Methodology: Finally, the teacher introduces the concept of flipped classroom methodology, explaining that students will be learning the theoretical aspects of the topic at home through videos and online resources, and the class time will be utilized for hands-on activities and discussions. This shift in learning approach will further intrigue the students and prepare them for an interactive and engaging classroom experience.

Development

Pre-Class Activities (20 - 30 minutes)

  1. Watch Video Tutorials: The teacher selects two video tutorials (5-7 minutes each) that explain the concept of units of measurement, one focusing on the metric system and the other on the customary system. These videos should be clear, visually engaging, and suited to the students' level of understanding. The teacher then curates a list of questions (around 10 per video) that will help students engage with the material and uncover any uncertainties for in-class discussion.

  2. Online Practice Exercises: After watching the videos, students are directed to an online platform that hosts interactive exercises on units of measurement. These exercises are designed to reinforce the concepts learned in the videos and to promote self-paced learning. Students should complete at least 10-15 exercises on each system of measurement.

  3. Additional Reading: The teacher provides a link to an article that discusses the real-world applications of units of measurement. The article could talk about how units of measurement are used in various professions like engineering, cooking, and fashion design.

  4. Quiz Preparation: Students are asked to write down any questions or doubts they have about the videos, exercises, or the article, to be discussed during the in-class session. They are also instructed to come prepared for a brief quiz at the start of the class to assess their understanding of the pre-class materials.

In-Class Activities (25 - 30 minutes)

Activity 1: Measure Up! (15 - 20 minutes)

  1. Introduction to the Activity: The teacher divides the students into groups of four and hands out a selection of objects of different shapes and sizes (a pencil, a book, a toy car, a small eraser, etc.) to each group. The teacher then explains the activity: each group has to measure the length, width, and height of each object using both metric and customary units of measurement.

  2. Performing the Activity: The students then proceed to measure the objects. They use rulers (for length), measuring tapes (for width), and a measuring cup (for height). Each student in the group is assigned a specific unit of measurement (meters, feet, inches, etc.) to use. They record their measurements on a chart provided by the teacher.

  3. Discussion and Conclusion: Once the measurements are complete, the teacher leads a discussion about the results. The teacher asks each group to share their findings and the difficulties they faced when measuring with different units. The teacher then explains how to convert units within the same system (metric to metric, customary to customary).

Activity 2: The Measure Treasure Hunt (10 - 15 minutes)

  1. Introduction to the Activity: The teacher introduces the second activity as a fun and competitive treasure hunt. The premise is that the students are explorers who have discovered a map with various locations marked on it. Each location represents a real-world scenario where units of measurement are used.

  2. Performing the Activity: The teacher hands out the maps, which contain a series of clues that lead to each location. Each clue involves a measurement-related problem that the students need to solve. For instance, a clue might say, "The treasure is hidden under the length of the world's tallest tree in meters divided by the number of feet in a yard." To find the treasure, the students would need to know the height of the world's tallest tree (in meters) and the number of feet in a yard, and then perform the calculation.

  3. Discussion and Conclusion: The first group to solve all the clues and find all the treasures wins. Once the treasure hunt is complete, the teacher leads a discussion about the solutions to each clue, allowing students to share their thought processes and discuss any difficulties they encountered during the hunt. This will reinforce their understanding of units of measurement and their ability to apply this knowledge in different contexts.

Closing the Class (5 - 7 minutes)

  1. Summarize and Reflect: The teacher takes a moment to recap the main points of the lesson. They might say, "Today, we learned about units of measurement, both in the metric and customary systems. We also explored how to measure different objects and quantities and how to convert units within the same system. We applied this knowledge in real-world scenarios through our treasure hunt activity."

  2. Connecting Theory and Practice: The teacher then discusses how the day's activities connected with the theory the students studied at home. The teacher might say, "The video tutorials helped us understand the concept of units of measurement, and the online exercises allowed us to practice what we learned. Our in-class activities then allowed us to apply this knowledge in a fun and interactive way."

  3. Homework Assignment: For homework, the teacher assigns a reflective essay where students are to describe one real-life situation where they have used units of measurement, explaining what they measured and what units they used. This will further encourage students to reflect on the practical applications of the day's lesson.

This stage of the lesson not only solidifies the students' understanding of the topic but also fosters a sense of achievement and excitement about their learning journey. It also provides an opportunity for the teacher to assess the students' learning outcomes and identify any areas that may need further reinforcement in future lessons.

Recent comments
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!
Iara Tip

IARA TIP

Are you struggling to keep students' attention in class?

On the Teachy platform, you can find a variety of materials on this topic to make your class more engaging! Games, slides, activities, videos, and much more!

Users who viewed this lesson plan also liked...

Community img

Join a community of teachers directly on WhatsApp

Connect with other teachers, receive and share materials, tips, training, and much more!

Teachy logo

We reinvent teachers' lives with artificial intelligence

Instagram LogoLinkedIn LogoTwitter LogoYoutube Logo
BR flagUS flagES flagIN flagID flagPH flagVN flagID flagID flag
FR flagMY flagur flagja flagko flagde flagbn flagID flagID flagID flag

2023 - All rights reserved

Terms of UsePrivacy NoticeCookies Notice