Monday, October 4, 2010

Cheap! Dinosaur Measurement And Science

In today's economy (and, as a frugal and financially wise, at any time!) I'm always interested in the lessons that can be improved in the most economical way possible.
My class was involved in the study of dinosaurs is based on the unit, and last week. It seems to me that there is always an easy way to combine language and literacy in every unit, but sometimes it is more difficult to integrate science and mathematics. Since this unit focuses on dinosaurs, science is not a problem either, but how we can integrate math concepts? Here's an idea that was used.

I found these pictures of dinosaurs in my local dollar tree. (Yes, it cost at least $ 1 for this lesson.)



I told my students that these dinosaurs were bigger when we put them in water. We decided to measure with a ruler, to predict the size we thought it would get, and then measure after.



Because I wanted to concentrate on a couple of math skills have made a big deal to measure the dinosaur. I left my finger on number 4, after which we measured and reminded the children that he should be "greater." I asked them: "How big do you think he is?" In other courses, such as pointing the finger at the top of the ruler (showing them the logical choice around the ruler.) They made predictions I recorded them and then observed. Pictures show what we have so far!



After measuring our dinosaur again tomorrow, we will leave the water and predict what will happen. It will be interesting to see if one of the children to predict which decreased by 4 inches (remember, this is where we begin our first step!)