measurement

We are just beginning our measurement unit in grade two. In grade one they do measurement, but they only learn to use non-standard units. That is, they measure things using blocks, or their feet, or little plastic counters or whatever. They learn to say the unit when they state the measurement of something, such as "the pencil is 9 cubes long".

So, I started them off by telling them that our custodian wants to put a carpet going up the wheel chair ramp so it isn't so slippery. How long should the carpet be? I ask them. So off they go, whispering in the hall, measuring the wheel chair ramp. We meet back at the carpet in our room to discuss the findings. I ask each group how they measured it. Some lined up rulers, others used blocks and a few groups used their feet. "We used our feet to measure the wheel chair ramp and we figured out that the wheel chair ramp is 41 millimeters long." Of course I tried to hold back my giggle. "Millimeters?" I said. "But I thought you used your feet to measure it," I say. "Yes, we did, but we decided it was millimeters."

Hilarious. So they obviously have a bit of learning to do about the meaning of a few standard units. And that your foot is not a millimeter long. And that the wheel chair ramp is most certainly not 41 millimeters long...