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In this two-lesson unit, students compare the heights of friends and classmates at different ages. Through the course of the lessons, students are exposed to algebra, measurement, and data analysis concepts. A major theme of the unit is analyzing change.
Individual Lessons
Lesson 1 - Comparing Heights to Explore Linear Measurement Students often view linear measurement as a procedure in which a number is simply read off a ruler. The goal of this lesson is to have students gain experience in linear measurement by using a variety of measuring instruments to measure the heights of classmates, to discover the error inherent in measurement, and to search for patterns in data that are represented on a table. In this lesson, students compare results of measuring the same height using different methods, and discuss measurement error. They measure the heights of classmates and the heights of older students in their school, and construct a table of height and age data. The lesson is also designed to serve as a springboard for a second lesson in which students relate measurement to algebra and data analysis concepts.
Lesson 2 - Analyzing Changes in Height as a Function of Age A key goal for instruction on algebra at the elementary level is to analyze change, and to understand how change in one variable can relate to change in a second variable. The goal of this lesson is for students to explore how changes in students’ ages relate to changes in their heights.
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