Big Kid Science
Measuring Shadows Using an Ancient Method
How did ancient peoples determine the height of really tall objects? Young scientists and mathematicians explore the concept of using shadows to measure height in a hands-on experiment. Paired pupils measure shadows, then calculate the...
Curated OER
Measure a Tree
Young mathematicians explore data collection and mathematical problem solving. They will work in cooperative groups to determine the height of a tree by measuring several predetermined distances on the ground. They will use the data...
Illustrative Mathematics
Growing Bean Plants
Plant growth experiments offer rich, cross-curricular learning opportunities that can really excite and engage young learners. In this series, children work in pairs planting, measuring, and comparing the height of bean plants in order...
Consortium for Ocean Leadership
Measure for Measure
How does your class measure up? Young scientists create a scale drawing of the JOIDES Resolution in a collaborative activity. The lesson incorporates mathematical principles with deep-sea exploration to focus on enhancing measurement...
Open Oregon Educational Resources
Forest Measurements: An Applied Approach
Geometry—it's not just for the math classroom! Learners explore the field of forestry through a mathematical lens. An instructional resource explains how forest workers collect data about trees such as height, diameter, and age using...
Curated OER
Units & Measurements
Young scholars define and identify various units of measurement. They measure using units, compare weights, enhance balancing skills and discuss how they use measurement in their daily lives
Curated OER
Survey of Height
In this data collection instructional activity, students survey the heights of their fellow classmates, organize their data in a data table, and create a bar graph from their data. Once bar graph is completed, students complete 2 short...
Curated OER
Using Your Marbles - Volume Measurement and Reporting
Demonstrate how to measure the volume of liquids and solids immersed in liquid to your class. They observe a teacher-led demonstration, and in small groups construct a data table that demonstrates how many marbles were used and the...
Berkshire Museum
Adopt a Schoolyard Tree
Help young scientists connect with nature and learn about trees with a fun life science lesson. Heading out into the school yard, children choose a tree to adopt, taking measurements, writing descriptions, and drawing sketches of it in...
National Geographic
Measuring Elevation Past and Present
After viewing a short video about a climb up Mount Everest, high schoolers read about triangulation for measuring distant elevations. Have your class work in groups to construct an inclinometer and then use it to measure the height of...
California Academy of Science
How Big is Big?
In a math or life science class, "mini-me" models are created with cardstock to reflect a 1:10 scale of students' bodies. Learners measure each others' heights with meter sticks, and then reduce the size by 10. After this exercise, they...
Curated OER
Inferring Height From Bone Length
Students determine the relationship between bone length and height. In groups, they are told the race and gender of the individual and discuss how this affects height. They measure the lengths of the bones in metric measurements and...
Curated OER
What Can We Measure About Chemicals?
In this measuring chemicals worksheet, students investigate measurements of an aluminum slab including the length, width, height, mass, volume and density. They do the same for a piece of aluminum foil and they compare their results....
Curated OER
Taking Measurements at Home
In this measurements worksheet, students find their weight, height, width and depth of their bodies at home using equipment around their homes. They use the proper number of significant figures to record their answers and they find the...
Curated OER
Measurement
Young scholars explore the necessity for standards of measurement and measure length, volume, mass and angles. In this measurement lesson plan, students use their hand and foot to measure objects in the room. They compare their...
Curated OER
Measurement Worksheet
In this measurement worksheet, students fill in a chart with the proper SI units, measurements and symbols. They also practice converting from one metric unit to another. They express numbers in scientific notation.
Curated OER
Arctic Animals: How Do They Measure Up?
Young scientists grab their measuring tapes, rulers, and yard sticks as they see how big Arctic animals really are. To conceptualize the trait of height or length, each small group will measure out the entire length of an arctic animal....
University of Wisconsin
Measuring Slope for Rain Gardens
The slope of the land is an important feature when considering the erosion that will occur. In this resource, which is part of a rain garden unit, learners calculate the slope of the proposed garden site. Even if you are not planning a...
Curated OER
How Big is Barbie?
Students measure various dimensions of a male and a female dolls body and scale them proportionally to average human measurements. They calculate the appropriate scale factor (magnitude) to enlarge their doll and apply that scale factor...
Curated OER
How Tall is that Tree?
Students use their feet to measure distance between themselves and a tree trunk. In this distance lesson, students use the number of steps, and string to measure distances and height of the tree. Students can get the tree height when...
Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics
Growing Up With A Mission
New Horizons began its journey to Pluto in 2006. Ten years later, it continues its mission. In that time, scholars have surely grown, but how much more will they grow by the time New Horizons reaches its destination? Find out with an...
ARKive
Sizing Up Species: Measurement Activities
Measurement devices can be used to determine the height, length, or weight of all kinds of things, even plants and animals. This presentation acts as the basis for two estimation activities. Each activity requires the children to...
US Department of Energy
Go Far Cars Ramp: A Basic Ramp with Four Height Settings
Precise measurements make the job easier! One of the challenges when using an inclined plane for testing comes from pupils not using exact measurements. They often rely on books that slide or different ramp lengths when experimenting. By...
PBS
Terrific Trees
Engage in a shady activity to practice measurement techniques. Classes venture outside to collect measurements of various trees, using different strategies to measure the height, trunk circumference, width, and crown size. Then they...