1.  Materials

a.  Paper

b.  Pencils

c.  How Big is a Foot?, Rolf Myller

d.  Construction paper

e.  Scissors

f.   Measurement worksheet

g.  Resources:

                            i.  http://illuminations.nctm.org/LessonDetail.aspx?ID=L635

                            ii.  http://illuminations.nctm.org/lessons/HowLong/HowLong-AS-BodyParts.pdf

                            iii.  http://illuminations.nctm.org/Lessons/BodyMeasurements/BodyMeas-AS-MyMeasure.pdf

             2.  Objectives

a.  Students will measure and record various body parts and bones.

             3.  Motivation

a.  Begin by reading How Big is a Foot? to students in Community Circle. Discuss how even though the story is fictional, the main ideas are still correct. The “foot” was based off a king’s foot and that became today’s “ruler.” Have students use a piece of construction paper to trace their shoe and cut it out. Display the collection of foot sizes in the room.

             4.  Goal for Learner

a.  Today we will take measurements of certain body parts and record them.

             5.  Content and Procedures

a.  Teacher Content

                            i.   Digit = width of the index finger

                            ii.   Hand = distance across the palm

                            iii.  Span = length of an outstretched hand

                            iv.  Cubit = length from the elbow to the outstretched fingertips

                            v.   Yard = length from the nose to the outstretched fingertips

                            vi.   Pace = length of one step, from back heel to front toe

                            vii.  Fathom = from fingertip to fingertip when arms are outstretched

b.  Procedure

                            i.  After reading the story and tracing the feet, give students their measurement worksheet (see attached). Students will be asked to measure the lengths of various body parts and bones using their rulers and record these measurements on their worksheet.

                            ii.  Students can use their own rulers or the classroom rulers. They will also be provided with paper strips and can use the strips (marking off with a marker) to make initial measurements and then measure the strips with a ruler. Help will be provided if necessary. Students will also be able to work with a partner as long as they are getting work done.

             6.  Practice/Application

a.  Students will be filling out their measurement worksheet by measuring the lengths of various body parts and bones.

b.  Students will also complete the two “Skeletal System” pages found within their folder.

             7.  Evaluation of Student Learning

a.  The measurement worksheet will be graded based on completion and accuracy. Although students’ answers will vary, there are certain answers which could obviously be wrong.

b.  The pages from the folder will be graded based on accuracy and completion at the end of the unit when the entire folder is graded.

             8.  Closure

a.  An extension of this lesson will follow, including graphing and comparing class data from several body part measurements.