P ENCILS, P APER CLIPS & P ENNIES Using non-traditional tools of measurements

C URIOUS MINDS WANT TO KNOW ? Does using pencils, paperclips, & pennies give the same measurement as a ruler? Why or why not? Can using pencils, paperclips & pennies be a good way to measure big things? What else could we uses instead of rulers, yardsticks & tape- measures? How can using non-standard units help you outside of school?

TEKS FOR G RADE 1 § Mathematics, Grade 1. (1.7) Measurement. The student directly compares the attributes of length, area, weight/mass, capacity, and temperature. The student uses comparative language to solve problems and answer questions. The student selects and uses nonstandard units to describe length. The student is expected to: (A) estimate and measure length using nonstandard units such as paper clips or sides of color tiles; (B) compare and order two or more concrete objects according to length (from longest to shortest); (C) describe the relationship between the size of the unit and the number of units needed to measure the length of an object;

O BJECTIVES Use pencils, paperclips, & pennies to measure various things around the classroom table top, book, door, computer monitor Classify which tool of measurement is better to measure on which object Create a graph representing the measurements you have taken Discuss how using other methods of measurements can be used

R ESOURCES Texas Education Agency