How tall, how high, how wide: Measuring Length

Our 3rd grades have been hard at work measuring length.  Our state is in a common core limbo right now so our kids still have to know how to use all of the customary and metric systems.  We started off the week measuring in inches.  Last year it was a bit of a challenge to get my 3rd graders to measure in quarter inches, but this year it was super easy.  I think it is because with the new shift to the core we had to teach fractions on a number line. 

As with all of my lessons, I started off with an anchor and notes in our interactive notebooks. (Picture coming tomorrow) 




After the students got a grasp on how to read the ruler we played my Scoot! game.  The kids loved it even though its really just a worksheet cut up into problems.  Hey! Let them move and its magical! You can grab your copy from my Teachers Pay Teachers store. 

During day 3 of our unit we started measuring in inches and plotting on a line plot.  To make this lesson fun I created a Monster Math Measurement packet. The kids loved all the different monster designs.  I posted the monsters around the room and had a small group walk around and measure them.  They recorded their measurements on their monster math tracker sheets.  I then had them get together with a group and compare their measurements.  I always try to get my kids to hold those educational conversations and help each other out. 

 

The students then used the line plot to graph their monster's measurements.  They even had their own versions of the monsters to spif up their graphs.  

The last bit of our week was spent choosing which unit to select when measuring items.  To help the kids remember which units were customary and which were metric we created an anchor chart. 









Tomorrow is our last day before Spring Break and we are all measured out!  When we get back from break we will move on to measuring capacity.  I have a ton planned for that unit!  Venterniary Nurse to measure in ml, baking a cake, making our own juice, and the list goes on and on.  Can't wait to share with you all! 

Anchors Away

It's Anchors Away Wednesday and I'm here to share my latest anchor charts. 

This week in reading we were studying personification.  The students picked up on it really well.  I purchased this fabulous packet at Teachers Pay Teachers by
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The kids LOVED the activities in the packet and it inspired our anchor chart. 

We were also studying area and perimeter.  To hook our students my co-teacher and I used the bread analysis.  We gave them a slice of bread and asked them where they butter it.  It definitely stuck!

What are some anchors in your class?

Let's talk Anchor Charts!

One of the big things I've been doing in my room the past 2 years is using anchor charts.  I must admit I never used anchors until I moved to 3rd grade.  It was my fabulous co-teacher Stephanie who persuaded me to ditch the store bought and get creative.  She was the one that showed me the light.  (AAAAAHHHH, angel's singing)

So now with every new skill we introduce the kids and I create an anchor.  My room is now plastered with posters of all the things we have learned so far this year.  If you haven't tried anchors yet in your room you should give it a go.  It really helps the kids "anchor"  their learning.  When I would post my store bought products around my room the kids would never read them.  They just became fancy decorations.  I don't see that anymore with our class anchor charts.  Our kids are constantly referring to our anchors everyday and its so cool to see them making the connections.  

Now I do get some criticism for my obsession with things being pretty and not letting the kids write one them, but in my defense we do create them together and I let them color them.  Okay when I say on here it looks pretty bad, but they do the trick. 

So in honor of my anchor obsession I will post my weekly anchors on Fridays. ( I'm sure I'll come up with a catchy name for it later.)  I hope that you will find my examples helpful.  I find alot of my stuff on Pintrest and then I make it my own.  Here are a few of my anchors from this year. 

Do you use anchors in your classroom?  How do they work for you?  

"If you don't know where you want to go, then it doesn't matter which path you take." - Alice in Wonderland