Lesson Plan #: AELP-MEA0203

Inchworm Measurement

An Educator's Reference Desk Lesson Plan

Submitted by: Holly Barron
Email: hbarron21@hotmail.com
School/University/Affiliation: University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown

Date: January 30, 2001

Grade Level: 2

Subject(s):

Description: Students will be introduced to the concept of measuring length. Students use inchworm measuring tools to measure the lengths of several classroom objects.

Goals:

  1. To have students learn the basic concept of measuring length.
  2. To have students use nonstandard units of measurement.
Objectives:
  1. SWBAT (Students will be able to) use nonstandard units of measurement to measure the lengths of classroom objects.
  2. SWBAT estimate lengths before measuring objects.
  3. SWBAT compare the lengths of classroom objects.
Materials: Procedure:  
Anticipatory Set:
Briefly review what it means to measure the length an object. Inform students that today they will be measuring objects in a different way (as opposed to using a ruler). Ask students to estimate about how many books tall they are. Have some students share their approximations and then verify the results. Discuss with students that what they just did was measure the length of their bodies using a nonstandard form of measurement. Let students know that they will have more opportunities to measure later during the lesson. 

Lesson Focus:
Introduce the book Inch by Inch and tell students to listen and watch carefully for how the inchworm measures throughout the story. Read the story and afterwards ask students to recall some of the objects that the inchworm measured. [Example: Discuss how the inchworm measured different parts of the birds.] 

Inform students that they are going to measure just like the inchworm did. Explain to students that they are going to get into four groups (you may want to assign these groups ahead of time). Once in their groups, each student will receive several inchworm measuring tools along with a worksheet. 

[The inchworm measuring tools are inchworms (about 1" long) cut out of green construction paper. Draw black dots along the bottom edge of the inchworm for feet. On the inchworm's head, draw a larger dot for an eye.]

Explain to students that each group will find 10 objects in the classroom, estimate the length of each item, and then use the inchworms to measure each item. As students work on the activity, the teacher should circulate around the classroom to check for understanding and to answer students' questions. 

Closure:
Review with students what it means to measure the length of an object. Have each group share a few of their recorded measurements with the rest of the class. Display some of the measurements on the board and ask students to compare the measurements. As a homework assignment, have students take some inchworms home to measure items in their homes. The next day, students should share what they measured.

Assessment: Observe students' participation in class discussions and during the inchworm activity. Collect students' worksheets to check for reasonable estimates and measurements.