Measure Hunt

COOPERATIVE DISCOVERY ACTIVITY

Objective: Students will use measuring skills as they orienteer through the school and play area.

Cognitive Link: The brain is attracted to novelty.

Academic Concepts: Measurement, orienteering, spatial awareness, and directionality, following written directions.

Equipment: Unusual measuring tools, large men's shoes, jump ropes, neck ties, etc., one for each group.

Organization: Students work in small groups or partners with each set having a different measuring tool. Each group answers the measuring problems but using different measuring tools. Each group begins at a different starting place (a different problem on the sheet) to measure.

Anticipatory Set: Teacher's Quote: "Today we are going to see if your measuring skills measure up. We have no measuring tools. What else can you measure with other than a ruler or measuring tape? (Foot, hand, knuckle) You will work in groups to measure different objects and distances all around our school. However, these will be your measuring tools (hold up some of the different tools)."

Activity: Students work in groups to measure with their specific tool. Take turns measuring. Record the number of the measurement of the space on the paper and move to the next question on the sheet.
At the end of the activity, compare answers to other groups. Have the Voyagers predict which numbers are going to be bigger or smaller depending on the measurement tool used.
VARIATION: Use Student's natural body measuring tools: foot, hand, knuckle, big toe, forearm, little finger, and smile. Neckties make an excellent measuring tool.

Closure: Teacher's Quote: "Did your measuring skills measure up? What are some other ways you can measure other than with a ruler or measuring tape?"