Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Capacity Scarecrows


When I saw Mathwire's lesson plan, Measurement Man, using "scarecrows to visually represent the relationship between gallon, quart, pint, cup" I knew what we were going to do today!

I set out several containers and asked my student to predict/estimate how many of each would fit into others, just by looking. He recorded ideas in his notebook.



He put the containers in order by capacity. I asked him to figure out how many:

  • cups in a pint?
  • pints in a quart?
  • quarts in a half gallon?
  • half gallons in a gallon?
He measured water, recording his results. I then asked him to look at his data to figure out:
  • cups in a quart?
  • quarts in a half gallon?
We then proceeded to make Measurement Man. As we worked, he told me how many of each measurement were equivalent to others.

Another student worked at a 5yo level and choose to make a monster face on his man.

Thank you, MATHWIRE, for another awesome lesson!

P.S. When we were showing these to Daddy and older siblings tonight, my student was quizzed again about various equivalencies. Funny thing? Dad and sibs had to check the scarecrows to see if he was right. :)

8 comments:

  1. This is such a neat idea! I pinned it for later. Thanks!

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  2. I remember doing this when the girls were little. Fun!

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  3. What a fantastic idea, thank you for sharing! Our family will be doing this lesson in the next few days.

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  4. Love your scarecrows! I wish we taught measurement at this time of the year!

    Caitlin
    Ms. Preppy's Adventures in Primary and Polka Dots

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  5. I loved this too when I first saw it on Math Wire but I've been waiting to find a gallon container. I need to be more resourceful. I like how you used the jars to measure. This is so awesome for visual learners. It really makes things stick!

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  6. This is EXACTLY what I needed for a center next week. I knew there had to be a graphic way to help my classes "see" the conversions. You just made my centers ROCK!

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