Concrete Measurement

Objectives

• Students will be able to name four different types for concrete measurement.
• Students will be able to recognize tools used for each type of measurement.
• Students will be able to use the tools effectively for each type of measurement.
  

Kit Contents

• Red Program Folder

• Books (in kit)
  • Herman, Gail Keep Your Distance

• Equipment (in kit)
  • Graduated Cylinder (1000 ml)
  • Platform Scale
  • Yellow Stopwatch
  • Tape Measure

Lesson

• Introduction
  • Have students think of different types of measurement.
    PLEASE NOTE: The definitions for each of the following are more for adult use than for a child to fully comprehend, although they may be useful for some children. The concepts are easier to understand than the actual definition.
  • LENGTH - the distance between two points along a straight line
  • VOLUME - the amount of space an object occupies
  • WEIGHT - the gravitational force put forth on an object (remember the mass of the object stays the same, but the weight differs depending on altitude and planet of measurement)
  • TIME - the measurable period between two events

• Activities
  • Length is one of the most basic measurements and is used as components of other standard measurements.
    • Find an object that is “boxy”. A boxy object is one with sides and corners. A Lego, a block, a die, would all be appropriate. Have your student measure and record the length of each side using the tape measure. (Length, width, height are all measured in the same units and are all considered “length” for purposes of measuring)
    • Have your student measure and record these values for each of the objects you collected. Recognize that what is being measured may vary. A ball doesn’t have a clear length, width, and height, but rather the circumference would be the measurement he/she gets when measured all the way around the ball.
  • Volume is related to length. It is the measure of how much space an object occupies. Volume can be taken in two different ways. If the object is a boxy object, the length, width, and height can be multiplied together in order to calculate the volume. Another common way to determine volume is by water displacement. If an object is filling a particular space, the water cannot be in that space.
    • Water displacement is done by filling the graduated cylinder with water to a decided level (the specific level does not matter as long as it is less than the top line. Record that number. Drop the object you wish to measure into the water. If the object floats, push it under water until the entire object is just barely under water. Record the new number for the height of the water. Subtract the two and that will tell you the volume or amount of space your object occupies.
      NOTE: Due to the size of this graduated cylinder, measuring very small objects may be difficult to determine the volume precisely.
  • Weight - Mass and weight are quantities that are frequently confused. Weight is when gravity is taken into account. A scale measures weight, a balance measures mass. The units are the same for both quantities.
    • 1. Use scale to weigh out various objects of choice recording for differences. Work with your student to reach the understanding that just because something is bigger (more volume) does not mean it is heavier (more weight). A large empty box weighs less than a small, solid brick.
  • Time - this is the measurable period between two events, not as a specific time on a clock. For this activity, the previous three forms of measurement will be included.
    • Pick several objects that you found would sink in water. Fill the graduated cylinder most the way full of water. Use your tape measure to measure the height of the water. Drop the objects into the column and time them to see how long it takes each to drop to the bottom. Time it for different objects and compare the time it takes each. Comparing the length of time, over the distance, gives you the relative speed of the objects. Is it the same for each or different? Work with your student to come up with an explanation as to why this is the case.
    • Choose objects of similar size, but different weight and measure the time for them to sink.

 

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