Describe and compare everyday occurrences using direct or indirect measurement

Indirectly Measured
Students estimate and measure the length and width of the ImagiNations teddy bear by using various nonstandard units of measurement, such as paper clips, erasers and pencils.

Balancing Act
Students will use a balance scale and place the ImagiNations teddy bear on one side and a very different item on the other side. Items selected for measurement should be close to the same mass as the teddy bear. The objective of the activity is to demonstrate that different objects have the same mass.

Bear Lengths
A student stands behind a line and throws a bean bag. Students estimate the distance from the line to the bean bag in “bear lengths” (the ImagiNations teddy bear is used as a nonstandard unit of measurement), then measure and record the actual distance in “bear lengths.” Three more students stand at the line and throw the bean bags. Using what was learned from the first throw, they estimate the distance of the other throws and then record an actual distance in “bear lengths.” Students order their findings from least to greatest.

Temperature
Make photocopies of 10 blank thermometers. Students will estimate, read and record the outside temperature for 10 days. Information collected is put into the ImagiNations teddy bear box and shared with students at the other schools visited by the bear.

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