Bring a watermelon to class and have students study it. Let each student estimate how big around the watermelon is by cutting a piece of yarn that shows his/her estimation. Now use a tape measure to measure around the middle of the watermelon. (Lead students into a discussion about why you did not use a yard stick to find the actual measurement.) Tape your tape measure onto the board and lay a strip of red paper alongside it to show the actual measurement you found. Invite each student to come forward and compare his/her piece of yarn to the red strip of paper. Record each student's name and the length of his/her yarn. Finally discuss results: Whose estimate was closest to the actual measurement?
To extend this lesson in measurement, you might challenge students to measure the distance around the watermelon with other non-standard units such as paper clips, a piece of lightweight jewelry chain, or Unifix cubes.
Find more activities for early childhood classrooms in these archives:
Sue LaBella, Education World's early childhood editor, is a former teacher who loves writing activities and poems for young children. She lives in Connecticut with her family and her bulldog named Daisy.
Have you subscribed to Sue's free Early Childhood Newsletter? If you have not yet signed up, you're missing out on more fun themed poems and activities. Take a look at Sue's newsletter archive, then sign up today so you don't miss another timely issue of this free newsletter.
Activities by Sue LaBella
Education World®
Copyright © 2009 Education World
05/18/2009
|
Sign up for our free weekly newsletter and receive
top education news, lesson ideas, teaching tips and more!
No thanks, I don't need to stay current on what works in education!
COPYRIGHT 1996-2016 BY EDUCATION WORLD, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.