In teaching measurement, teachers need to identify the difference between standard unit and non-standard units. Standard unit is the unit of measurement involving length, area, volume, mass, temperature, electricity and time. While non-standard units is the object used to measure the length of a table, for example a paper clip.
Here are the objects being used for measurement. It is a non-standard units.
Teacher could ask the children to measure the length of their table by using different measuring devices as mentioned above. The quantity of the object used varies because of their size. Young children should be aware about the sensitivity of the measuring devices used, the smaller the device, the accurate the reading will be. Thus, among the three variables, the paper clip is the most accurate device to be used to measure the table.
Measuring the length of the table using the popsicle sticks.
Measuring the length of the table using paper clips.
Q: How many paper clips are used to measure the length of the table ?
A: 6
Q: How many popsicle sticks are used to measure the length of the table?
A: 16
Making a measuring device
After covering the topic measurement in indirect comparison between the paper clips and the length of the table, we are now moving on into creating a meaningful learning experience addressing the topic of making our own measuring device.
In this part, normal household materials are needed in making the measuring device. A measuring cup or a spoon, corn seeds and also an empty container as shown in the picture below are needed to make our own measuring devices.
The measuring cup or the spoon will act out as the measuring device. The main objective is to see how many cup with the corn seed is needed to fill out the empty container. Young children would first need to fill the cup with the corn seed until it is full. Then they have to pour the cup into the container and mark the container with a marking pen to indicate that the level is for one cup. The picture below clearly explain the situation.
The container is filled with 1 cup of corn seed.
The process is repeated until the container is full and the marks are marked correctly. Thus, young children will find out that the amount of cup needed to fill the container is the volume of the container. For example, 4 cups of corn seed are needed to fill the container. The volume of the container is 4 cups of corn seed.
The container is full. 4 cups of corn seed are used to find the volume of the container.
Teacher could get the correct understanding of the students with the lesson by asking them questions.
Q: What is the non-standard measurement used?
A: Plastic spoon.
Q: How many measuring cups are used to fill the container?
A: 4.
Q: What is the volume of the container?
A: The volume of the container is 4 measuring cups.
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