Measuring and Comparing

Dear Parents,

This week your child will be learning how to measure and compare organisms and objects using standard and nonstandard units. As part of our TEKS, your child should be able to use age-appropriate tools and models to verify that organisms and objects can be observed, described, and measured.

Standard Units include such tools as rulers, meter sticks, measuring cups, thermometers, balances, measuring tape, and computers just to name a few.

Nonstandard units would include tools such as noodles, cotton balls, yarn, pens, shoes,etc.

http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/firstgarden/fundamentals/index.html

This talks about planting a garden. It has link to directions on measuring different parts of the garden. There is a journal as well as other activities that would be involved in starting a journal including when to start planning for the garden. This is something so fun and hands-on that you and your child can do together. This is something ongoing that your child can be proud of and the memories will last a lifetime.

http://illuminations.nctm.org/ActivityDetail.aspx?ID=33

This website lets your child practice using an online balance and putting shapes on each side. At the same time, they will be able to see if two items are equal or not and therefore compare the objects.

http://www.brainpopjr.com/math/measurement/inchesandfeet/grownups.weml#parents

This website has activities to do with your child. The first one is to use nonstandard units to measure and record your child's height. The other is to use footsteps to make a map of your neighborhood. I think you and your child will have fun together doing these activities.

These activities will be fun for you and your child and can be ongoing over an extended period of time. I hope you enjoy this special time with your child learning together.

Mrs. Hudson