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Jan. 26, 2006
Teaching Measurement
We are learning about measurement. The following actually encompasses what we will be doing for this unit of mathematics and is not a single lesson plan.
Thou shalt not have in thine house divers measures, a great and a small.
Deu 25:14
Principle: God requires us to be fair in all our dealings.
Leading Idea: Standardized measurements ensure accuracy in measuring, and promote fair trade.
Background: Look at the history of measurement. Measurement was once not very accurate. The cubit of the bible was the distance from the tip of the elbow to the tip of the middle finger. These kinds of measurement worked fine when one craftsman was doing the measuring. But think about how big the ark would have been if it were measured by Shaq's cubit as compared to your child's cubit.
Activity: To illustrate this, you will need more than one person and some different things to measure. Measure items using your cubit, hand and foot. How many hands across is the window when your youngest measures it? Your oldest? You? What would happen if you needed to replace the window? If dad measrued the window with his hand and then sent Jr. to the store with directions to buy a window five hands wide and 10 hands tall, how likely would it be that the clerk would get the right size order?
Reasoning: Assist the child in reasoning out the necessity of a standard and devise different methods of obtaining a standard. One method is to designate one person's hand the standard hand, etc. But whose hand? And how will others be able to measure accordingly? King Edward I of England had a similar problem. In the thirteenth century, he designated the iron ulna (after the name of the bone in the forearm) as the standard measure of one yard. The foot was to be one third of that and the inch one 66th.
Illustration: Introduce standard measurement as it exists today. Look at tools we use to measure, including a balance, a scale, a ruler, a yardstick and measuring cups. Talk about how the standard helps us to measure accurately and consistently for baking, sewing and for trade. Ask the child which of the systems God had in mind when He said we should not have divers measures.
Application: Do something requiring measurement...sewing, baking, a craft project...whatever you and your child enjoy doing together. Ask questions about measurement as you complete the project and help her to reason and apply the information.
This can be tied easily to history (the above site provides a lot of historical information about the development of our modern standards) and scripture when talking about godly dealings with men. The above verse is directly relavent, but think also of James chapter 2 and how that relates. What is God's standard of measurement for our lives?
If you have posted lesson plans or lesson ideas today, leave me a comment and I'll post the link here for others to find your post. If you would like more lesson ideas, peruse the list which will hopefully develop, or browse through my blogroll under "Friday Favorites." These are other bloggers who have indicated that they would participate on a regular basis. If you would like to be added to this list, let me know and I'll add you and help you through getting the blogroll in your sidebar.
Happy Blogging!
Dana
Today is Mozart's birthday...and National Chocolate Cake Day. Find out mor over at Janne's place!
And Miiko has some great lesons for teaching scripture and from scripture. She is logging her lessons as she works through the Judah Bible Curriculum. Mine is on its way!!!!
Here is a post I stumbled across that is worth reading: The Engish Blog
And one more...for those of you interested in teaching reasoning and encouraging children to reason more, this is an excellent example of teaching through questioning.
lesson plans, lesson planning, teaching math
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