After much debate as to what topic to research and find resources for, I have finally decided on measurement. Our book has a whole chapter devoted to measurement. The last two years we have read parts of the chapter about each type of measurement and completed a chart that includes definition, examples, unit of measurement, abbreviation, instrument used to measure. As we learn about each one, we also practice. For example we learn about length and we measure the book, the table, etc. We learn about mass and practice finding the mass of items using the triple beam balances. Because it is not all “normal” school work, the students find this chapter kind of fun, except that this chapter also includes the Metric System. On the hands-on assessment, some do not do well. More practice and some more instruction is required by some. I have found some websites that we could put on the Smart Board and do as a class or we can go to the computer lab and get some individual practice. Websites are listed below with a brief description as to what is included.
Reading a Triple Beam Balance Tutorial http://www.wisc-online.com/Objects/ViewObject.aspx?ID=GCH202 or http://www.ohaus.com/input/tutorials/tbb/tbbentry.swf. Both websites have tutorials and walk the students through how to care for, measure, and read, with practice sessions.
Metric System http://www.think-metric.com/ has history, games, posters, links to other sites.
Graduated cylinder http://www.jabe.com/#F. this site has more than just graduated cylinders, but I used this one to create my practice sheets. You can create pictures of graduated cylinders with the liquid levels. This site was not super user friendly, but it worked. There are probably better ones out there.
Since this chapter deals with weight and mass. Students often have the misconception that they are the same thing. We talk about that weight changes; mass does not—no matter where you go. I found a website that you can put in your weight on Earth and it calculates your weight on the different planets and other celestial bodies. The students love this site. http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/weight/
Hope these websites help you add some 21st Century skills to your measurement lessons. Happy measuring!
PS Anyone interested in my Measurement Chart, I can email it to you. I do not know how to link documents yet. :)
