Lesson Plan

How Tall Are You, Really?

Main Subject Area: Mathematics

Duration of Lesson:  45 minutes

Keywords:

• Coins
• Estimation
• Measurement
• Money
• Multiplication

Brief Description:

Students will determine their height in cents (pennies) by developing a measurement standard.

National Standard(s):

• Problem Solving
• Number and Operations
• Measurement

Additional Subject Area Standard(s):

Objectives:

Students will extend their understanding of the process of measurement.

Students will estimate, make and use measurements to describe and compare.

Students will extend their understanding of the concept of length.

Students will develop procedures for determining measures to solve problems.

Materials (online):

Materials (offline):

Math Journals for each student

For each group of 4 students you will need:

A large number of cents

Measuring tapes

Calculators

Coins Used in Lesson:

Circulating U.S. cents

Grade Level(s):   3-5  

Procedures (online):

Procedures (offline):

1. Students will first estimate how many cents, stacked on top of each other, it would take to equal their own height.

2. Next, students place cents in a stack to measure and find length of an inch. Students can compare their results as a class and determine an average so the whole class uses the same standard.

3. Using the class standard, students determine their height and its own worth in cents. Students can record this information in their math journals. See the assessment below for a description of what to include.

Assessment / Evaluation:

Students can be assessed on their response the following questions:

How many cents did you determine were in a stack of one inch?

How many cents would there be in a stack as tall as you?

How many dollars does that equal?

Explain your answer below. Describe your strategy and illustrate it.

Differentiated Learning Options:

Students can repeat this activity to determine the value of their height in nickels, dimes or quarters. They can also place the coins side to side.