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Afterschool Lesson Plan Database

Lesson Plan

Geometry: Hands and Feet
Subject: Math
Grade span: 2 to 5
Duration: 30 to 45 minutes
This lesson was excerpted from the Afterschool Training Toolkit under the promising practice: Math Tools

Description:

This sample lesson is one example of how you can implement the Math Tools practice. In this activity, students use a variety of measurement skills, tools, and strategies to find the area of their hand and foot prints.

Learning Goals:

Materials:

Preparation:

What to Do:

English Language Learners (ELL) Enhancements

Teaching Tips Language Goals

Teaching Tips:

Some students will understand length, width, and area quicker than others and may not need guidance on the use of a ruler or protractor.

Be sure that students maintain the proper units of measurement as they proceed (centimeters, inches) and that all measurements for one object are taken using the same units. Students who are measuring will also need to use the formula for calculating area, or the space an object takes up (Area = Length x Width).

Allow them to either come up with the formula on their own or have a conversation around what they might do with their measurements before providing it for them.

Students who are just learning these concepts may use nonstandard units of measurement, like counting the squares on the graph paper or simply guessing by comparing the size of their hands and feet.

These students will need to estimate some squares in portions (halves, quarters) and will also need to keep track in some way of what has been counted. Coloring or marking counted spaces in some way will be helpful. However students decide to tackle the problem, allow them to explore on their own before stepping in to offer a suggestion.

Evaluate (Outcomes to look for):

Standards:
Click this link to see additional learning goals, grade-level benchmarks, and standards covered in this lesson.

Online Training for Afterschool Staff
The Afterschool Training Toolkit is available online free of charge.

The following resources can be used with the online Afterschool Training Toolkit to give you the resources you need to build fun, innovative, and academically enriching afterschool activities.