Wichita falls ISD
5th Grade Science
Unit Planner
Unit 18: Measurement Madness
Time Frame: 4-5 days
Objectives
Skills: The student will be able to…
• The student uses scientific methods during laboratory investigations.
• The students knows how to use a variety of tools and methods to conduct science
inquiry.
TEKS
Process Skills: 5.2A, 5.2B,
5.2C, 5.2D, 5.2E, 5.2F, 5.2G,
5.4A, 5.4B
Performance Indicators
By the end of the unit the student will be able to…
• By the end of the unit students will be able to measure length, mass, volume, density, and temperature as well as
conversions (metric to metric and metric to English). Students have many opportunities to use rulers, triple-beam
balances, and other science equipment to learn how to use the metric system of measurements.
Lesson Information
Activities
• Use the following web site to access lessons.
• http://sciencespot.net/Pages/classmetric.html
Lesson #1 - Length
• 1. Length Presentation (PPT) - I use this presentation to review the basic units
of length and how to measure distances.
• 2. Length Worksheet (pdf) - Student worksheet that goes along with the
presentation.
• 3. Length Lab (pdf) - Students are challenged to find the length of various
objects in millimeters, centimeters, and meters.
• 4. Units of Measure - Length (pdf) - Thanks to Christina Bryant for sharing this
worksheet.
Lesson #2 - Mass
• 1. Mass Presentation (PPT) - I use this presentation to review the basic units
of mass and how to measure mass using a triple-beam balance.
• 2. Mass Worksheet (pdf) - Student worksheet that goes along with the
presentation.
• 3. Mass Lab (pdf) - For the mass lab, students first estimate the mass of
various objects, then find the actual mass using triple-beam balances or other
scales. To prepare for the activity you will need to organize various items
(coins, paper clips, marbles, rocks, large washers/s-hooks, etc.) and triplebeam balances or scales for each group. They may group items together to
reach a targeted mass, such as three pennies for 5 grams, or just use a single
item. This lab is always a hit and the students get much needed estimation
practice.
• 4. NOTE: Estimates should be checked before any measuring is allowed! Some
students will skip the estimation step and advance to using the scales!
Wichita Falls ISD (2014-2015)
5Sc Unit 18
Process Skills TEKS must be incorporated into
instruction as appropriate throughout the school year.
Vocabulary
• Mass
• Density
• Volume
• Ruler
• Length
• Width
• Triple Beam Balance
• Double Pan Balance
• Graduated Cylinder
• Irregular Volume
• Millimeter
• Centimeter
• Kilometer
• Grams
• Temperature
• Thermometer
• Liter
• Milliliter
• Freezing Point of
water
• Boiling Point of water
• Celsius
1
revised 2/19/15
•
5. Another idea (from Sandra Gasparovich, Central Jr. High, East Peoria, IL)
involves using film canisters, a triple-beam balance, and a variety of materials
to create a set of masses. The students may use the masses during lab
activities or challenge them to take them home and find items with like
masses. Another twist is to fill pairs of canisters with various objects (pennies,
popcorn, seeds, screws, washers, M&Ms). Give each student one canister and
allow time for them to search for their "partner" - without looking into the
canister. Once the groups have found their match, the students can check
their results by opening the canisters.
Lesson #3 - Volume
• 1. Volume Presentation (PPT) - I use this presentation to review the basic
units of volume and how to measure volume of regular and irregular objects.
•
2. Volume Worksheet (pdf) - Student worksheet that goes along with the
presentation.
•
3. Volume Lab (pdf) - This lab consists of measuring the volume of liquids and
regular solids as well as using graduated cylinders and overflow cans to find
the volume of irregular objects (rocks).
Lesson #4 - Density
• 1. BrainPop Measuring Matter Video - Students
watch the BrainPop movie
and complete the activity sheets - regular and advanced.
• 2.Mystery Canisters (pdf) - The density lab, known as Mystery Canisters,
challenges students to modify three film canisters so that they have one that
floats, one that sinks, and one that will remain suspended in the tub of tap
water. Materials needed for the lab are: plastic tub of water (or the bottom
half of a 2-liter soda bottle), three film canisters (free from Walmart, KMart,
etc.), and an assortment of small objects (pennies, paperclips, marbles, etc.)
for mass. Students will also need equipment to help them measure mass
(triple-beam balance) and volume (graduated cylinders and overflow cans.)
• 3. Students are allowed a few minutes to create the three canisters that will
(1) float, (2) sink, and (3) remain suspended. Students may have difficulty
getting one of the canisters perfectly suspended. If the students can get the
canister to suspend with less than half of the lid above the surface, they
should get numbers that result in a density close to 1.0 g/ml. Once the
students have their canisters approved, they find the mass and volume of the
canisters and calculate each density. They should notice that the floating vial
has a density less than 1 g/ml, the sinking vial has a density greater than 1
g/ml, and the suspended vial has a density close to 1 g/ml.
Additional Information
Materials/Resources
• Double pan balances
• Triple beam balances
• Meter sticks
• Rulers
• Graduated Cylinders
Wichita Falls ISD (2014-2015)
5Sc Unit 18
Notes from Council
• http://sciencespot.net/Pages/classmetric.html
Process Skills TEKS must be incorporated into
instruction as appropriate throughout the school year.
2
revised 2/19/15
•
•
Beakers
Thermometers
Misconceptions/Underdeveloped Concepts
•
•
•
Students believe that mass and weight are the same.
Students don’t realize that an irregular shaped object also has volume.
Students have trouble determining if a centimeter, meter, or millimeter needs to be used to measure different
objects.
Parent Resources
•
•
Cook with your child following a recipe.
Count how many steps it takes to get from one room to another and then measure it with a measuring
tape.
Wichita Falls ISD (2014-2015)
5Sc Unit 18
Process Skills TEKS must be incorporated into
instruction as appropriate throughout the school year.
3
revised 2/19/15