ALEX Learning Activity

  

Pencil Measurement and Data Activity

A Learning Activity is a strategy a teacher chooses to actively engage students in learning a concept or skill using a digital tool/resource.

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  This learning activity provided by:  
Author: Stephanie Carver
System:Cullman City
School:Cullman City Board Of Education
  General Activity Information  
Activity ID: 2800
Title:
Pencil Measurement and Data Activity
Digital Tool/Resource:
Pencil Measurement and Data Activity
Web Address – URL:
Overview:

This activity should be used as extra practice or an assessment after students have already been introduced to measuring with a ruler and line plots. In this learning activity, students will measure the lengths of pencils to the nearest half-inch and record the data on a line plot. 
  Associated Standards and Objectives  
Content Standard(s):
Mathematics
MA2019 (2019)
Grade: 3
17. Measure lengths using rulers marked with halves and fourths of an inch to generate data and create a line plot marked off in appropriate units to display the data.
Unpacked Content
Evidence Of Student Attainment:
Students:
  • Measure objects to the nearest 1/2 inch.
  • Measure objects to the nearest 1/4 (quarter) inch.
  • Create a line plot marked off in appropriate units (whole numbers, halves, or quarters) to represent data of several objects.
  • Create a line plot marked off in appropriate units (whole numbers, halves, or quarters) to represent data of repeated measurements.

    • Example: Measuring how far a marble rolls under certain conditions.
Teacher Vocabulary:
  • Halves
  • Fourths
  • Data
  • Line plot
  • Unit
  • Quarter inch
  • Horizontal
  • Partition
Knowledge:
Students know:
  • Nearest half and nearest quarter inch on a ruler.
  • A ruler is a type of number line and shows fraction of 1/2 and 1/4.
Skills:
Students are able to:
  • Measure objects to the nearest half and fourth of an inch.
  • Create a line plot to display the data of the objects measured.
Understanding:
Students understand that:
  • A line plot is a graph that displays a distribution of data values, including whole numbers, halves and quarters, such that each data value is marked above a horizontal line with an X or dot.
  • A ruler is a type of number line partitioned equally and shows halves and fourths.
Diverse Learning Needs:
Essential Skills:
Learning Objectives:
M.3.17.1: Define line plot.
M.3.17.2: Identify the parts of a line plot.
M.3.17.3: Measure objects to the nearest inch.
M.3.17.4: Identify one-inch units on a ruler starting with 0.
M.3.17.5: 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.
M.3.17.6: Directly compare two objects, with a measurable attribute in common, to see which object has "more of" or "less of" the attribute, and describe the difference.

Prior Knowledge Skills:
  • Define length and line plot.
  • Use vocabulary related to comparison of length.
    Examples: longer, shorter, longest, shortest, taller.
  • Demonstrate rounding up to the nearest whole unit on measurement tools.
  • Demonstrate measuring length using standard units.
  • Describe a line plot.
  • Model measuring length using standard units.
  • Identify the object length.
  • Explore objects in relationship to length.
Alabama Alternate Achievement Standards
AAS Standard:
M.AAS.3.16 Measure lengths of objects using non standard tools (paper clips). Limit to whole numbers.
M.AAS.3.17 Using vocalization, sign language, augmentative communication or assistive technology, represent and interpret data on a picture or bar graph when given a model or a graph to complete.
Learning Objectives:

Students will measure lengths to the nearest half-inch.

Students will record the measurement data on a line plot marked off to the nearest half-inch. 
  Strategies, Preparations and Variations  
Phase:
After/Explain/Elaborate
Activity:

Students will use the Pencil Measurement and Data Activity Sheet to measure the lengths of several pencils to the nearest half-inch. After measuring the pencils, the students will record the data on a line plot. This activity may be done independently or with partners. It can be used as an assessment or extra practice.   
Assessment Strategies:

The activity sheet Pencil Measurement and Data Activity will be taken as an assessment. 
Advanced Preparation:

Each student will need a copy of the Pencil Measurement and Data Activity Sheet. 

Six-inch rulers may be printed on cardstock and cut out for the students to use. These should be laminated if they will be used in the future. 
Variation Tips (optional):
 
Notes or Recommendations (optional):

This activity can stand alone or be used as an After/Explain/Elaborate activity for the following learning activities:

 

Measuring to the Nearest Half and Fourth Inch (before activity)

Toy Car Measurement Data and Line Plot (during activity)
  Keywords and Search Tags  
Keywords and Search Tags: data, half inch, line plot, measurement, measuring