How many tools can you think of that help us measure?

To reinforce this concept, we played the "Mini-Metric Olympics". This involved the enjoyable experience of playing "sports" such as Paper Plate Discus, Paper Straw Javelin, Cotton Ball Shot Put and The Big Foot Contest. These "sports" made measuring distance and size into a fun and competitive activity. Yet again, the Gamification of mathematics proves to make simple concepts, like measurement, not only engaging to students, but it also makes these concepts applicable to real-life situations.  I can't wait to host my own Mini-Metric Olympics with my own students, as I love the interactive and collaborative learning environment in creates.

AIMS Education Foundation. (1987,  January). Mini-Metric Olympics [worksheet]. Retrieved from http://www.nclark.net/mini-metrics.pdf

Measurement can be made fun through more than just the Mini-Metric Olympics, however. As a class, we also learned about more measurement-themed games such as Area Dice and Measurement Jeopardy. We also discussed the different ways in which measurement can be interpreted. Remember when I asked you to picture tools that help us measure? We discussed many tools - everything from the humble 30 cm ruler to a high-tech galvanometer. But what if we move beyond these tools and think outside the box?




As Drew Brees and Elmo point out in the video above, you can use anything to measure ... even a potato! When young students are first introduced to measurement, this concept of open-ended measurement can be extremely helpful. Students can learn to use everyday objects to estimate the length, width or height of any object, including themselves! Measurement should never be introduced as a restrictive concept with limiting rules. Instead, using open-ended and relative measurement, as well as gamification can help students to view measurement as a site of wonder and inquiry.