ALCA Members PLC Domains Data Standards Map Plan Curriculum Assessment Strategies

Are You a Square Student?

21769.jpgIn this math lesson, students will measure their height and then measure the distance between their longest finger to other longest finger (need to have level, out-stretched arms) to determine if they are a square student, a tall rectangular student or a wide rectangular student.
Students will be able to compare the results between classes, grade levels, and even different ALCA communities. In doing so, students can be introducted maximum and minimum values, averages, and possible relationships between different groups of students.

Engaging Questions

  • How many students in our class were square students?

  • How many students were tall rectangular students?

  • How many students were wide rectangular students?

Teacher Goals

  • Students will measure their height and width to determine if they are square, tall rectangular, or wide rectangular students.

  • Students will compare their class results with another class in a different region.

Required Resources

  • Yardsticks or Tape Measures

  • "Are you a square student?" recording paper
    This paper will provide a place for students to record their height and width. You may download this form in the instructions section.

  • Map
    Have a map ready when you are going to compare/contrast the results from a class in another region.

Optional Resources

  • This information allows you to record each student's results. After all the students have added their height and arm length, you can find the tallest person, the longest arms, and the average width and height.

  • Please answer the following questions about your group or class participating in this activity.

  • Checklists (Rubrics)

    • Answer these questions about how well each student worked to determine whether he/she was a square student, a tall rectangular student or a wide rectangular student. 

Steps

  1. Measuring Height

    Have your partner measure your height in inches. Record your height on the data sheet provided. It is also attached below.

  2. Measuring Arm Span

    Stretch out your arms. Have your partner measure the distance from your longest finger on your left hand to your longest finger on your right hand. Record the distance in inches. Record your height on the data sheet provided.

  3. What's the Difference?

    Subtract the difference between your height and arm span measurements. Record the difference on the data sheet provided.

  4. Complete the Online Individual Form

    Using your data in the paper form, complete the Are You a Square Student Individual form.

  5. Looking at Results

    Look at the form and the Table Results to view the uploaded data.  Use the export feature to open it in a csv file.  Copy and paste the data into the attached LoggerPro file and it will show a cluster graph of the results.

  6. Compare/Contrast

    Compare your class results with another class. Locate their city on a map! How are they similar/different to your class?

Teacher Notes

  • I found that students work better together when they have a math partner that is on or near their same level and share a similar learning style. Placing high and lower level students together usually frustrates the lower level student and they do not understand the reasoning to solve the problem.

  • Overemphasize what square, tall rectangular, and wide rectangular mean. They had lots of questions about if they were taller or wider!

  • When I modeled this activity for the class, they understood all of the steps to be completed.

  • This activity can be completed in approximately 40 minutes.

Please enter a Registration Key to continue.