Measuring with Fuzzy Squares: A Royal Math Adventure!

Math Grades 1st Grade 4:08 Video
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Lesson Description

Learn how to measure objects accurately using same-size units, just like the King!

Video Resource

Measuring a golden statue | Measurement and data | Early Math | Khan Academy

Khan Academy

Duration: 4:08
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Measurement using same-size units
  • Importance of no gaps or overlaps when measuring
  • Starting and stopping measurement at the correct points

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to measure objects using same-size units.
  • Students will be able to explain why it's important to avoid gaps and overlaps when measuring.
  • Students will be able to accurately start and stop measuring at the correct points.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students about times they have measured things (e.g., their height, a toy). Discuss why measuring is important. Introduce the idea of using the same-sized units for measuring.
  • Video Viewing (7 mins)
    Play the Khan Academy video "Measuring a golden statue | Measurement and data | Early Math | Khan Academy". Encourage students to pay attention to how the King and Sal measure the statue, and the mistakes they make.
  • Discussion (5 mins)
    After the video, discuss the following questions: What were the blue fuzzy squares used for? What mistakes did the King make when measuring? Why is it important to start at the bottom and end at the top when measuring?
  • Activity: Measuring Objects in the Classroom (15 mins)
    Provide students with same-sized objects (e.g., blocks, paperclips, erasers). Have them measure different objects in the classroom (e.g., their desk, a book, a pencil). Remind them to avoid gaps and overlaps, and to start and stop at the correct points. Have each student measure at least 3 different objects.
  • Wrap-up (3 mins)
    Review the key concepts of the lesson. Ask students to share what they learned about measuring.

Interactive Exercises

  • Measuring Scavenger Hunt
    Hide objects around the classroom, then give the kids a piece of paper with those same objects and have them write down how many of their measurement tool it took to measure the hidden object.

Discussion Questions

  • Why is it important to use the same size units when we measure?
  • What happens if we have gaps or overlaps when we measure?
  • Where should we start and stop when we are measuring something?

Skills Developed

  • Measurement skills
  • Problem-solving
  • Attention to detail

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

What do we use to measure the statue in the video?

Correct Answer: Blue fuzzy squares

Question 2:

What happens if you leave gaps when you measure?

Correct Answer: Your measurement will be too short.

Question 3:

What happens if you overlap when you measure?

Correct Answer: Your measurement will be too long.

Question 4:

Where should you start measuring an object?

Correct Answer: At the bottom.

Question 5:

Where should you stop measuring an object?

Correct Answer: At the top.

Question 6:

What is the lesson about?

Correct Answer: Measuring things

Question 7:

If you measure a book with 5 blocks, and then measure it again and get 6 blocks, what might have gone wrong?

Correct Answer: You used the wrong blocks.

Question 8:

Which of these cannot be a measurement tool?

Correct Answer: A spoon

Question 9:

Why does the King need to measure the statue?

Correct Answer: To see if it's the right size.

Question 10:

Who helps the King measure the statue?

Correct Answer: Sal

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

We need to use the same-size _______ to measure things.

Correct Answer: units

Question 2:

When we measure, we don't want any _______ between the units.

Correct Answer: gaps

Question 3:

We also don't want any _______ when we measure.

Correct Answer: overlaps

Question 4:

We should start measuring at the _______ of the object.

Correct Answer: bottom

Question 5:

We should stop measuring at the _______ of the object.

Correct Answer: top

Question 6:

The King wants to measure a _______ of his father's head.

Correct Answer: statue

Question 7:

The units the King uses are _______ fuzzy squares.

Correct Answer: blue

Question 8:

It's important to be _______ when you measure.

Correct Answer: careful

Question 9:

Sal helps the King by teaching him how to _______ correctly.

Correct Answer: measure

Question 10:

Measurement is an important skill in _______.

Correct Answer: math

Educational Standards

CCSS.Math.Content.1.MD.A.2:Express the length of an object as a whole number of length units, by laying multiple copies of a shorter object (the length unit) end to end; understand that the length measurement of an object is the number of same-size length units that span it with no gaps or overlaps. Limit to contexts where the object being measured is spanned by a whole number of length units with no gaps or overlaps.

Teaching Materials

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