Can you measure this?

If you've reached that stage in your class' exploration of measurement where you're afraid to stand still because a swarm of children will start measuring your ankle, the distance to your knee, how far apart are your eyes, what's the distance from your nose to the floor, etc. - - - then it's some time for some challenges. Here's a few to get you started. These make great assignments for teams, many work for individuals as well. Consider listing a few examples for your class, and then asking them to submit what they would like to measure - from the list, or their own idea. After your approval of the project, let the measuring begin!

Measure the following in as many ways as possible, e.g., height, width, length, weight, number, volume, temperature, time, and record your measurements. Measure the inside of things and their individual pieces, as well as the outside. When you think you've measured an item every way there is, talk it over with some folks and see if you can find at least one more way. Use both standard and non-standard units of measurements. Your report should include labeled drawings, illustrations, and pictures of whatever you are measuring, showing both standard and non-standard units of measurement. Be sure to include a sample, picture, or drawing of your non-standard unit of measurement - whether a cookie or a toe, or an elephant's ear. Have fun!

relative or friend
your dog
baseball field
bathroom and everything in it
car or truck
ten pairs of ears
computer
piano
football uniform including helmet and pads
bicycle
plant
one aisle in a grocery store
garden
one block on your street
section of a park
school bus
movie theater
playground
feet of ten people and three animals
heads of ten people
paint
stuffed animal
lamp
elephant
your dinner, e.g., spaghetti, meatballs, roll, margarine, milk, cookie
motorcycle
pop-up book
fire engine
cappuccino machine
tractor
brook
If it fits with your lesson plan and course objective, have children include in their report any relationships they found amongst their measurements.