Are you struggling to come up with fun activities for teaching measurement? You’re not alone. Many teachers search for ways to breathe life into lessons on length, weight, and volume. Turning this subject into a hands-on, dynamic experience is not only possibleβit’s a game-changer for student engagement. In this blog post, Iβm going to share 15 fun measurement activities that will transform your upper elementary classroom into a lively hub of learning. So, get ready to measure up the excitement! πβ¨
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Picture this: your classroom buzzing with excitement, groups of students eagerly engaging with rulers and scales, not because they have to, but because they want to. The secret? Making measurement fun in the classroom.
Letβs explore some dynamic and interactive measurement activities that bring math to life for your students!
How do you make measurement fun?
Before we jump into our list, letβs tackle the big question: How do you infuse fun into the world of measurement?
The key is interactivity. Transforming measurement from a solitary task into a collaborative and competitive adventure can make all the difference.
Engaging students in games, hands-on experiences, and real-world scenarios keeps their minds active and their attitudes positive.
How do you teach a student to measure?
To guide our students on their journey through length, weight, and volume, consider these strategies:
- Integrate Measurement with Daily Routines: Let them measure classroom items or track the growth of a plant. Or, have students create stacks of books they have read and have them measure the pile at the end of each month to see who has read the most!Β
- Create Measurement Scavenger Hunts: Send students on a mission to find objects of specific lengths or weights. This could be around your classroom, across the school, or outside.Β
- Utilize Estimation Stations: Have students guess measurements before confirming with tools. Estimation is such an important skill, so giving students as much opportunity as possible to do this will help improve their measuring skills.Β
- Incorporate Storytelling: Craft tales where characters face measurement dilemmas they must solve. This could be through word problems or task cards. Alternatively, you could get students to write their own stories that involve measuring.Β
- Blend in Technology: Use educational apps that gamify measurement concepts. Some great real-world measuring apps can be used in the classroom as well.
15 Measurement Activities for the Classroom
Ready to transform your measurement unit? Here are 15 hands-on activities to get your students excited about length, volume, and weight:
1. Architects in Training with Math Measuring Tapes
Transform your upper elementary students into architects by equipping them with measuring tapes to explore the classroom. Their mission: to meticulously measure furniture, windows, and even the whiteboard. Encourage precision and detail as they record the lengths, widths, and heights of objects.Β
Then, it’s time to put their measurements to work by redesigning the classroom layout. Theyβll create blueprints and even construct mini 3D models to scale, showcasing their innovative new plans.Β
Through this activity, theyβll not only practice accuracy in measurement but also understand its critical role in design and function, proving that math really can shape their world. πποΈποΈ
2. Kitchen Concoctions
Use recipes to explore volume and weight. Give students a recipe or let them select one and explain that they must make enough to feed the entire class. Students will first convert measurements and scale the ingredients. Then, the activity gets hands-on when students get into the kitchen to cook!
If you do not have a kitchen at your school, you can get students to make playdough instead. This tasty task teaches conversions and practical application. π
3. Weight and Estimation
Place various classroom items on a balance scale and have students estimate their weight, then compare predictions with actual measurements. This exercise sharpens estimation skills and makes for an exciting reveal!
You can even bring in dumbbells of specific weights for students to practice lifting and see if they can find other objects around the classroom that weigh the same. βοΈ
4. Stitch and Measure Sewing Craft
Dust off those rulers and thread the needles with this fun and hands-on Stitch and Measure Sewing Craft. Students get to measure, cut, and sew fabric, making their very own fabric coasters or pouches. Each student will measure and cut two pieces of fabric to the same size, whether it’s a 6×6 inch square for a coaster or an 8×10 inch rectangle for a pouch.
With a focus on precision, they’ll learn to allow extra for seams and practice their stitching along marked lines. This activity isn’t just about following numbers; it’s about creating something beautiful and practical. By the end, theyβll have a fabric masterpiece that puts their measurement prowess on full display. πβοΈπ§΅
5. Inventor’s Workshop
Challenge your students to engineer their own measurement tools from recycled materials. Theyβll measure, cut, and assemble with purpose, reinforcing the real-world value of measurement skills.Β
I love incorporating STEAM challenges into my classroom because it makes learning hands-on and practical for students. Plus, it is another easy way to engage students as it does not require a worksheet.π¨
6. Track and Field Mathletes
Transform your class into a team of mathletes where they measure their long jumps or timed sprints. Analyze and graph the results for a math-meets-gym class that scores big on engagement and exercise. π
Alternatively, have students plan an entire sports day or sports morning for a younger class in the school. You can have small groups running different events (long jump, shot put, running, etc.) Each group would be responsible for setting up, explaining and then running the event!
7. Storybook Surveyors
Assign teams to build a scene from a favorite storybook to scale. Theyβll measure and calculate to ensure their model matches the story’s description, honing their skills as diligent dimension detectives. π
8. Measurement Task Cards
I love using task cards in my classroom. It allows students to practice important math concepts without complaining about doing another worksheet. This BUNDLE of Length Measurement Activities and Task Cards will be the perfect addition to your measurement unit.Β
This comprehensive pack comes with 80 vibrant task cards in both printable and digital forms, including self-checking features for immediate feedback. Aligned with Common Core 4.MD.A.1, it makes mastering measurement engaging with SCOOT game templates and easy-to-track answer keys, ensuring your students enjoy every step of their measurement journey. ππ
9. Market Day Mathematics
Host a classroom market where items are priced based on their measurements. Students use rulers and scales to buy and sell, practicing their measurement skills with a dose of financial literacy. π
Things students can measure and buy:
- Lengths of fabric/string
- Weight of fruit and vegetables
- Height of flowers
9. Nature’s Numbers
Bringing learning outside is a super easy way to get students excited about learning. Let your students venture outside to measure the heights of trees, the length of leaves, or the weight of stones. This measurement activity connects math to the natural world in a meaningful way. π³
11. Growth Chart Historians
Have students research and compare historical figures’ heights using a classroom growth chart to visualize the past. This merges measurement with history, making both subjects measure up! π
12. Volume Victory
Students estimate and calculate the volume of different classroom containers, learning firsthand about capacity and the math behind it. It’s a hands-on way to pour on the learning. π
You can have students use unit cubes or water to help determine the volume of each container. This is a great way to promote problem-solving as students will have to learn on their own how they can measure the volume of a container with no measurement marks.Β
13. Measurement Olympics
Conduct a class, “Measurement Olympics,” where accuracy is critical. Students will compete in different events and record different measurements on graph paper. You can even have students graph the results to determine a winner.Β
You can include events likeβ¦
- Precision Paper Plane Throwing: Each student crafts a paper airplane and launches it; the distance flown is then measured.
- Marble Roll: Competitors roll a marble down a ramp, measuring the distance it travels from the base of the ramp.
- Rubber Band Shoot: Students shoot rubber bands towards a target, measuring the distance from the target where the rubber band lands.
- Bean Bag Toss: Toss bean bags towards a set of concentric circles and measure the distance from the center point for scoring.
- Water Relay: Carry water from one point to another with a measuring cup, then measure the remaining volume to determine the steadiest hand.
- Pencil Javelin: Throw standard pencils and measure the distance they cover, taking into account the accuracy of the throw.
- Book Balance: Students stack books on top of each other and measure the height of the stack without toppling over.
This is a great activity to put their measurement skills to the test. π₯
14. Converting Measurement Task Cards
Like I said earlier, I LOVE task cards! They give students a more hands-on approach to completing a worksheet and answering questions.Β
This bundle makes mastering ounces, pounds, and tons a breeze with 83 interactive task cards and worksheets, complete with digital options for versatile teaching. Aligned with the Common Core (4.MD.A.1), it includes SCOOT game templates for a dash of fun and answer keys for swift grading. π
Whether used for spirited class competitions or as a bonus for quick learners, itβs an essential toolkit for any teacher ready to elevate their measurement lessons. ππ
15. Ancient Architects
This measurement activity is a great way to bring history into your math class. Assign your students the important task of designing and building a cardboard city. Students should use rulers and geometry to ensure their buildings aren’t just visionary but accurately scaled. ποΈ
Students can create models of buildings from various ancient civilizations.Β
Here’s a list of civilizations they might draw inspiration from:
- Ancient Egypt – Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx
- Ancient Greece – The Parthenon, Temple of Olympian Zeus
- Ancient Rome – The Colosseum, Pantheon
- Ancient China – The Great Wall, the Forbidden City
Encourage students to research their chosen civilization and consider the unique architectural features for which these cultures are known. They can then apply their measurement skills to create accurate scale models of these famous structures. This activity will not only incorporate math skills but also enrich students’ knowledge of world history and ancient cultures.
Embracing these interactive measurement activities not only reinforces math skills but also fosters a love for learning that goes beyond the classroom. By bringing a sense of play, collaboration, and real-world relevance to measurement, we can lift our students to new heights of engagement and understanding.
Looking for more measurement activities and ideas?
- How to Expertly Teach Measurement to Upper Elementary Students
- How to Effectively Teach Weight to Upper Elementary Math Students
Have you tried any of these activities in your classroom? Or do you have a tried-and-true measurement game up your sleeve?Β
Share your experiences, and let’s continue making math irresistible for our upper elementary scholars! Drop a comment below, or hit the share button to spread the inspiration.Β
Happy measuring! ππ
