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Non-standard Measurement

Non-standard Measurement

TEKS Objective

The student is expected to collect data from observations using simple equipment such as hand lenses, primary balances, thermometers, and non-standard measurement tools.


Essential Understanding

The student develops abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry in classroom and outdoor investigations.

Science Background

Classroom Case Studies Grade K-2: Annenberg Learner (website) - Class case studies enable examination of how children in grades K-2 think about and work with measurement concepts, including those of area and relative size. Also includes strategies for presenting related content in your own classes.


Classrrom Case Studies Grade K-2
Annenberg Learner, www.learner.org

Signature Lesson

How Many Steps? National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (website) - Students use non-standard units to collect measurement data, record their measurements in a bar graph, and make comparisons using the graph.

How Many Steps?
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, illuminations.nctm.org

Supporting Lessons

Estimation and Measurement: Science NetLinks (website) – Students learn to estimate and measure using unconventional (non-standard) units.


Estimation and Measurement
Science NetLinks, www.sciencenetlinks.com

Assessment Ideas

Have students read How Big is a Foot? by Rolf Myller, or read it aloud to the class (see Literature Connections, below). Challenge each student to “build” a bed from construction or copy paper, using his or her foot length as the primary unit of measurement.

Literature Connections

Measuring Penny. Leedy, Loreen (ISBN-13: 978-0805065725)
Measurement. Dowdy, Penny (ISBN-13: 978-0778743590)
How Big is a Foot? Myller, Rolf (ISBN-13: 9780440404958)

Related Science TEKS

(2.1A) Science Safety
The student is expected to identify and demonstrate safe practices as described in the Texas Safety Standards during classroom and outdoor investigations, including wearing safety goggles, washing hands, and using materials appropriately.

(2.1B) Importance of Safe Practices
The student is expected to describe the importance of safe practices.

(2.1C) Recycling/Disposal of Science Materials
The student is expected to identify and demonstrate how to use, conserve, and dispose of natural resources and materials such as conserving water and reuse or recycling of paper, plastic, and metal.

(2.2A) Ask Questions
The student is expected to ask questions about organisms, objects, and events during observations and investigations.

(2.2B) Plan and Conduct Descriptive Investigation
The student is expected to plan and conduct descriptive investigations such as how organisms grow.

(2.2D) Record and Organize Data & Observations
The student is expected to record and organize data using pictures, numbers, and words.

(2.2E) Communicate and Justify Explanations
The student is expected to communicate observations and justify explanations using student-generated data from simple descriptive investigations.

(2.2F) Comparing Results of Investigations
The student is expected to compare results of investigations with what students and scientists know about the world.

(2.3B) Make Predictions
The student is expected to make predictions based on observable patterns.

Related Math TEKS

2.12D    The student is expected to use tools such as real objects, manipulatives, and technology to solve problems.
2.13A    The student is expected to explain and record observations using objects, words, pictures, numbers, and technology.

Additional Resources

Tools and Measurement: PBS Teachers (video) - Use the “Exploring Measurement” activity to teach students about non-standard measurement. Then, scroll toward the bottom of the page and click on “Exploring Measurement,” a music video clip from an episode of Sid the Science Kid.

Tools and Measurement
PBS Teachers, www.pbs.org

Hop on Pop and Non-Standard Measurement: Alabama Learning Exchange (website) - Students will experience a hands-on, cross curricular lesson that explores non-standard measurement.

Hop on Pop and Non-Standard Measurement
Alabama Learning Exchange

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