Grade 2 › G2U08 Measuring Length

Grade 2 › G2U08 Measuring Length › L5
GRADE 2 · ALBERTAOUTCOME AB-G2-2M1

L5 · Measuring with referents from the land: clinic

Learning goal

“I can measure and estimate lengths on the land: with units from nature, with my own body referents, and in centimetres - and I can say which unit I used and why.”

Land referent — a known length from the land or your body - a straight stick, a hand span, a step - used to measure or estimate.
Self-created tool — a measuring tool you make yourself, like one straight stick you iterate along a path.
Step — the length from one of your footprints to the next, used as a unit on the land.
Hand span — the length from your thumb tip to your little-finger tip, with your hand stretched wide.
Worked example

A class measures a garden row with one straight stick - a self-created tool. Step 1 - CHOOSE AND CHECK: the stick is straight, and it will be the only unit. Step 2 - ITERATE: the stick is laid at one end of the row, its end is marked in the dirt, and it is moved to the mark. Lay, mark, move. Step 3 - COUNT: the stick is moved 7 times. The row is 7 stick lengths long. Say it plainly: people have always measured on the land with what is around them - sticks, spans, and steps. First Nations, Métis, and Inuit travellers used the land and their own bodies to describe lengths and distances long before rulers.

Check yourself — explain it

Why does the class mark the dirt each time the stick moves?

Paired problem — example still visible

A path is measured by iterating one straight branch. The branch is moved 5 times. How long is the path? -> 5 branch lengths

Faded completion — last step is yours

"Iterating a stick means: lay it down, ___ where it ends, then ___ it along." -> mark; move

Ready to practise?

10 scored questions with a 3-rung hint ladder. Mastery needs 8/10 plus both gate questions.

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