Black Bayou Lake Measures Up

Black Bayou Lake Measures Up

Title: Black Bayou Lake Measures Up
Subject: Mathematics
Grade Level: 5 - 6

Overview:
Students will visit Black Bayou Lake refuge with measuring tools in hand. The students will be placed in cooperative groups for the activities. The students will select what they would like to measure (from a suggested list), and choose the tools that will be needed for the task.

Approximate Duration: 2 - 60 minute class period

Content Standards:
Measurement
In problem-solving investigations, students demonstrate an understanding of the concepts, processes, and real-life applications of measurement.

Benchmarks:
M-1-M
applying the concepts of length, area, surface area, volume, capacity, weight, mass, money, time, temperature, and rate to real-world experiences;
M-2-M
demonstrating an intuitive sense of measurement (e.g., estimating and determining reasonableness of measures);
M-3-M
selecting appropriate units and tools for tasks by considering the purpose for the measurement and the precision required for the task (e.g., length of a room in feet rather than inches);
M-4-M
using intuition and estimation skills to describe, order, and compare formal and informal measures (e.g., ordering cup, pint, quart, gallon; comparing a meter to a yard);

Grade-Level Expectations (GLEs):
Measurement
Grade 5
15. Model, measure, and use the names of all common units in the U.S. and metric systems (M-1-M)
18. Estimate time, temperature, weight/mass, and length in familiar situations and explain the reasonableness of answers (M-2-M)
19. Compare the relative sizes of common units for time, temperature, weight, mass, and length in real-life situations (M-2-M) (M-4-M)
20. Identify appropriate tools and units with which to measure time, mass, weight, temperature, and length (M-3-M)
Grade 6
18. Measure length and read linear measurements to the nearest sixteenth-inch and mm(M-1-M)
19. Calculate perimeter and area of triangles, parallelograms, and trapezoids(M-1-M)
21. Demonstrate an intuitive sense of relative sizes of common units for length and area of familiar objects in real-life problems (e.g., estimate the area of a desktop in square feet, the average adult is between 1.5 and 2 meters tall)(M-2-M) (G-1-M)
22. Estimate perimeter and area of any 2-dimensional figure (regular and irregular) using standard units (M-2-M) 23. Identify and select appropriate units to measure area(M-3-M)

Educational Technology Standards:
Use multimedia tools and desktop publishing to develop and present computer-generated projects for directed and independent learning activities.

Understand Internet concepts (e.g., website, hypertext link, bookmarks, URL addresses) and apply intermediate on-line searching techniques (e.g., employ keyword, phrases, and Boolean Operators).

Objectives:
1.The students will measure length of a variety of items at Black Bayou Lake refuge.
2. The students will select appropriate units and tools to perform the measurements.
3. The students will estimate approximate lengths before performing actual measurements.

Lesson Materials and Resources:
Pencils
Record Sheet
Measuring tools such as rulers, yard sticks, tape measures and a trundle wheel

Technology Tools and Materials:
Hardware:
Computer
Printer

Software:
Inspiration
Microsoft Word
Paint

Websites:
Measurement
http://www.aaamath.com/mea.html
National Library of Virtual Mathematics
http://matti.usu.edu/nlvm/nav/vlibrary.html

Background Information:
The students will have some prior knowledge of measurement. They may not be as familiar with selecting the tools that they will need to accomplish the task.

Lesson Procedures:
Day One
1. Ask the students if they would like to go on a field trip to perform mathematical tasks with measurement. Tell them that there is work to be done before the trip. We must plan ahead so that we will be prepared with measuring tools.
2. Take the students on a virtual tour of the Black Bayou Lake refuge.
3. After the virtual tour, use Inspiration software to brainstorm with the students. Ask the students, "What types of "things" could be measured at Black Bayou Lake refuge?" From the list of "things" to measure you will choose one to actually measure at the refuge. What tools would be needed for each measurement. Make a list of the various tools that would be needed for the field study.
Day 2 - Procedures for Field Trip to Black Bayou Lake refuge
1. Place the students in groups for activities to be completed at Black Bayou Lake refuge.
2. Distribute record sheets and pencils.
3. Students will choose what they would like to measure from the "brainstorming" selection of "things" that could be measured at Black Bayou.
4. Students will estimate the measurement and write their estimate on the record sheet.
5. The students will now choose what tools are needed to accomplish the task.
6. The students will now actually see just how Black Bayou Lake Measures Up.
7. Record measurements on the record sheet.
Day Three
1. The students will go to the computer and use Microsoft Word and/or Paint to draw a scale drawing of what the group measured. The students will briefly describe what tools were used to take the measurements. The students will state whether or not their estimates were correct.

Assessment Procedures:
Group Work Rubric
Teacher Observation
Accommodations/Modifications:
The students will be placed in groups for the activities.
Refer to individual IEPs for additional accommodations.
----- written by Emily Rash and Rosemary Dillingham

Reproducible Materials:
Black Bayou Lake Measures Up Group Rubric
Black Bayou Lake Measures Up Record Sheet

Explorations and Extensions:
Students can research CAD drawings to learn about landscape design.
Students can utilize interactive websites to further develop skills needed for measurement.
Allow students to research and plan a Butterfly Garden.
Butter Fly Garden
http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/components/DG6711e.html

Lesson Development Resources:
GLE Related Materials
http://www.louisianaschools.net/lde/saa/1914.html

Contact Information:
Emily Rash
emily.rash@mcschools.net
Mathematics Specialist
Additional Contacts:
Rosemary Dillingham
rosemary.dillingham@mcschools.net
Instructional Technology

Black Bayou Lake Home | Curriculum Materials | Resources | Black Bayou Lake NWR | Monroe City Schools