Math Lesson: Unit Conversion
Lesson Plan
45 minutesGrades4Mathematics
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Written by Janet Mahedy, Sustainable Jersey for Schools
About this lesson
Students use a hands-on approach to determine if the trees in their schoolyard are Big Trees.
Inquire: Students develop a procedure to determine if the trees in their schoolyard would be eligible for inclusion in the NJ Forest Service “Big and Heritage Tree” database.
Investigate: Students measure and estimate the size of the trees, then convert those measurements from inches to feet.
Inspire: Students compare, using greater or less than terminology, to identify if any of the trees measured are Big Trees.
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Suggestions
- This lesson can be taught during a math unit on measurement and unit conversions.
- This lesson can be used during April for Earth Day.
- This lesson highlights the importance of student collaboration for a common purpose and uses hands-on learning to support positive climate action.
Prerequisites
- This is lesson 2 of 3 in our 4th grade Math Unit Plan: Big Trees and Erosion.
- Tape measures, yardsticks, and clipboards should be gathered before going outdoors.
- Teachers may want to provide clipboards and measurement notes to students for outside measuring reference.
- Students should have a basic understanding of how to measure with appropriate tools such as tape measures and yardsticks.
- Teachers may want to remind students to start measuring from 0 on the measurement tools in order to take accurate measurements.
- Teachers should be aware that large amounts of data might be overwhelming for some students and may wish to streamline or remove some of the entries which will not impact the analysis.
Differentiation
- Teachers may want to support the measurement activity in the Investigate section by selecting student pairs or small groups that support strengths or weaknesses within the group.
- As an extension activity, students can identify the species of the trees that they measured.
- For extra practice or extension, students can repeat the measurement activity using trees near their home or community.
- Students can research more about how the Lenape viewed trees, specifically in the Lenapehoking.
From the scientist review
This lesson teaches students the fundamentals of unit conversion as students measure, evaluate, assess, and decide which trees in their schoolyard qualify to be listed in the New Jersey Big and Heritage Tree Registry. After reviewing the lesson, we determined that it was credible in terms of science.
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About the teacher writers
Janet Mahedy
Janet Mahedy is a middle school mathematics educator with 19 years of teaching experience. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Accounting) from Montclair University, as well as a Master of Arts in Teaching in Elementary Education and a Master of Science in Mathematical Foundations from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Janet holds New Jersey Standard Teaching Certification (Nursery School through Grade 8), New Jersey Middle School Mathematics Certification, and New Jersey Educational Supervisor Certification.
Sustainable Jersey for Schools
Sustainable Jersey is a network and movement of municipalities, schools and school districts working collectively to bring about a sustainable New Jersey. Acting with state agencies, non-profit organizations, foundations, academia and industry, Sustainable Jersey researches best practices for what communities could and should do to contribute to a sustainable future.
