Making a Yardstick - 2nd grade edition

Students will make their own yard stick and measure their heights
Maker Mindset

Students will complete the yardstick challenge where they are making their own yard stick and use it to measure their heights (or other body parts - feet, armspan etc.) Through the challenge and 1 follow-up lesson, the mathematical purpose is developing understanding of linear measurement, (2.MD.A), measure in and relate different units - inches and feet (2.MD.A.2), generating measurement data (2.MD.D), relating addition and subtraction to length (2.MD.B). They will engage in mathematical practices 5 (appropriate tools) and 6 (attending to precision).

Building a maker mindset 

Other mathematical purposes: 

  • Represent and solve problems involving addition and subtraction (2.OA.A)
  • Understand place value - skip count by 5s (2.NBT.A.2)

Prior Experience

Measuring, addition, and subtraction.

Materials For This Cycle

Materials Needed for this Cycle

  • Blank yardstick or meterstick
  • Pencil
  • Markers
  • 3 inch by 5 inch index card (real index cards are better than self-made ones, which will be inaccurate due to human error)