Prepared by: Megan Stone

Lesson title/topic: Measuring Cactus

Subject area: Cognitive

Grade: Pre-School
Date: 10/10/2012

Time available: 45 minutes

STANDARDS/OUTCOMES addressed in this lesson:

28. Understand measurable attributes of objects and the units, systems, and processes of
measurement.
OBJECTIVES Through these learning activities, the student will be able to:

Using their bodies' students will be able to measure the length of Saguaro Cactus.
INSTRUCTION

Teaching strategy:

Child Centered
Introduction/Set induction

Have different types of cactus out around the room for the students to look at. There will be different
sizes of cacti.
Instructional Activities

Bring all the children together on the carpet and talk about the different sizes that the cacti were. Then
talk about how there are really big cacti. The Saguaro cactus can get up to 45 feet high. That is bigger
than some trees. Measure out how long 45 feet is on the floor and have the students take turns seeing
how many of them it would take to me as tall as a Saguaro cactus. As a class make a graph of the
findings comparing the results.
Conclusion/Closure

Ask the children questions such asWould it make a difference if we used all the shortest kids in the
class to measure? Or the tallest kids?
Transitional Activities

Count the number of steps it take to get back to you seat.

How this lesson provides for ASSESSMENT of student learning:

Observation- by watching the children as they use themselves as a unit of measurement.

Pre-assessment

Talking about the different sized cactus's that are in the room.
Checking up

While children are using their bodies to measure I will be walking around to make sure they are all
actively participating.
Post-assessment

Talking to the children after they are done measuring about how it would affect the number if we used
short kids or tall kids. Or if we used blocks and compare the differences in the measurements.
How this lesson provides DIFFERENTIATION for the students in this class:

Children who cannot lie on the ground can practice measuring at their table or can watch and help the
other children.
RESOURCES NEEDED

Cacti - Multiple different kinds, that do not have spikes. That way kids can touch them.
REFLECTIVE ASSESSMENT of the lesson and student success (to be hand written after lesson is taught)