What is the length of your dinosaur in inches and centimeters? What is the mass of a baseball in grams and ounces? How does a thermometer reflect a change in temperature? Third graders answer these and other questions during the Dino Math Measurement Workshop at the Children’s Museum.
The workshop focuses on measurement skills because this is generally an area of weakness on the state tests. The students rotate through three stations. One station will give students an opportunity to compare and predict the weight of objects in grams and ounces using rocker balances. Students will relate these measurements to weight and mass. A second station will acquaint students with ounces, cups, pints, quarts, and gallons. Another station will include measurement of length and width using inches, centimeters and non-standard methods. They will also measure the temperature of water using a thermometer.
“Offering a curriculum to support classroom teachers gives the Museum an additional function in meeting the needs of children,” said Sharline Freeman, Museum Executive Director. “Although teachers go to workshops, having workshops for students is more unusual. We are so glad that the Museum can offer this program.”
The program gives teachers a point of reference for measurement as they teach math concepts throughout the year in the classroom. Teachers and students experience hands-on activities that are already set up and organized.
“The Dino Math Workshop covers the measurement concepts that I will be teaching during the year.” one teacher said.
“I’m not able to provide this type of hands-on activity in the classroom and the kids have so much fun with the activities,” another reported.
The program continues for three weeks ending on November 18. Teachers may call the Museum at 903-886-6055 for additional information.
