As We Grow: Measuring Heights and Graphing Data
Students visit second- and fourth-grade classes to measure the heights of older students using large building blocks as a non-standard unit of measure. They also measure adults in the school community. Results are displayed in age-appropriate bar graphs (paper cut-outs of miniature building blocks glued on paper to form bar graphs) enabling a comparison of the heights of different age groups. The activities that comprise this activity help students develop the concepts and vocabulary to describe, in a non-ambiguous way, how heights change as children age. This introduction to graphing provides an important foundation for creating and interpreting graphs in future years.
Building blocks can be used to measure a person's height.
Measuring and graphing are important skills used in all engineering disciplines. When engineers design houses or cars or bicycles, they need to know the likely shapes and sizes of the people who will be using those structures, vehicles or products. Making graphs enables engineers to look at lots of data at once, in order to see averages, trends and patterns.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Measure heights in a non-standard, age-appropriate way, such as by using building blocks instead of rulers.
- Display data in the form of pictorial bar graphs.
- Interpret bar graphs.
- Describe how the heights of children change as they age.