Sustainable Fabrics: Measurement Lesson
Lesson Plan
2 hours 30 minutesGradesK, 1, 2English Language Arts, Mathematics
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Written by Angelique Hammack
About this lesson
Students explore their shoes' size and purpose and learn about the positive and negative aspects of synthetic fabrics.
Inquire: Students draw and label their favorite pair of shoes, focusing on the purpose of the shoes’ materials.
Investigate: Students explore how a shoe’s size impacts its use by measuring and comparing their shoe size to their classmates’ shoe size.
Inspire: Students learn about the positive and negative aspects of synthetic fabrics in shoes and make a pledge to take care of their shoes.
Preview the lesson plan
Better on a bigger screen? Open it in its own tab.View Lesson Plan
Everything you need to teach it
How to edit these materials (video)Teaching tips
Suggestions
- Sentence frames for all student discussion questions are included in the Teacher Document for additional support.
- Teachers can incorporate this lesson into a math unit on measurement.
- Students explore measurement through the use of manipulatives and motion.
- Students have various opportunities to engage in and practice motor skills and develop critical thinking and verbal reasoning.
- Students work collaboratively with peers for discussion and group work.
Prerequisites
- This lesson can be taught with companion lessons on other fabrics.
- Teacher will need to obtain a copy of the book, If the Shoe Fits: Nonstandard Units of Measurement, by Jennifer Dussling.
- Teacher can review additional teacher notes on synthetic fabrics in the Teacher Document.
- Teacher should gather and prepare the following materials:
- 10-20 per student: paper clips, toy cars, unit cubes, counting bears, or other uniform items that can be used as nonstandard units of measurement
- 1 per student: rulers, yard or meter sticks
Differentiation
- Visual Sentence Boards are provided as an option to support student responses and can be printed out from the Teacher Document.
- Students can use the provided sentence frames in the Teacher Document for any class or group discussions.
- Shoe measurement worksheets in the Student Document are differentiated according to grade level standards and scaffolded for student ability.
- Students can trade shoes and complete another round of center activities with a partner’s shoe.
- To extend older students’ learning about the harmful effects of synthetic fabrics, watch the video The Story of Microfibers. A video guide is provided in the Teacher Document.
From the scientist review
Students learn about synthetic fabrics and their production in this session. Furthermore, it helps them understand the effects of synthetic fabrics—both good and bad—on people and the environment, as well as what they can do to prevent synthetic fabrics from ending up in the ocean and other ecologically delicate areas. Our examination of the lesson's science content was successful after fact-checking the lesson's materials.
Want this to fit your class?
Add your location for local examples, questions, and action ideas.
About the teacher writer
-thumb.webp)
Angelique Hammack
K-8 General and Special Education Teacher
Angelique Hammack is a K–5 educator with a Master of Arts in Education from California State University, San Marcos. She has been teaching since 2017 and specializes in reading, mathematics, and writing in both general and special education settings. Angelique is a certified CALTPA Multiple Subject Scorer and holds an Education Specialist Credential.
