Stations Outline

Grade Level: 2
nd
grade Approximate length of time: 45 min 1 hour
Learning Objectives:
The student will be able to measure items with the non-standard unit unifix cubes.
The student will begin to see that a unifix cube is comparable to 1 inch.
The student will be able to compare the two in written format.

STANDARD, BENCHMARK, INDICATOR(S):
CCSS.Math.Content.2.MD.A.1
Measure the length of an object by selecting and using appropriate tools such as rulers,
yardsticks, meter sticks, and measuring tapes.
http://www.corestandards.org/the-standards

Prerequisite Skills Needed:
Ability to measure with unifix cubes.
Ability to read the ruler and beginning to use it correctly.
Ability to compare two measurements.
Know what it means to measure how long something is.

Materials Needed:
Rulers, Unifix Cubes, Clipboards, Pencils, Book, Crayon Box, Glue, Math Journal, Marker

Station Instructions: (worksheets attached)
Children will be participating in a rotating station where they will measure the given items on the
table with unifix cubes and then a ruler. Once they have rotated all 6 stations and measured the
book, crayon box, glue, math journal, and marker they can take their clipboard and worksheet to
a work space. At the work space they have directions to make an entry in their Math Journal
comparing the measurements of the unifix cube and inches on their ruler. Their instructions are
make an entry in your Math Journal about the comparisons between unifix cubes, inches, and
ruler measurements. It should be at least one paragraph and contain at least one example from
today. This is the beginning of wrapping up non-standard units and using just the standard
measurements. The students should be fluent with non-standard units in particular unifix cubes
at this point.
At the beginning of instruction the stations will already be set up. There will be 6 separate
tables. All will have unifix cubes and a ruler. Each will also contain one of each of the
following: a math journal, a book, a marker, a crayon box, scissors, and a glue bottle. The
students will be instructed to move around the tables and measure each item with the unifix
cubes and the ruler. They will be split up so that are all starting in different areas. Once all of
the measurements are collected they will go to a work space to do their Math Journal Entry.
They have the instructions above both verbally and written to complete a comparison journal
entry on unifix cubes versus the inch and rulers.


Summary of Purpose:
The purpose of these centers is the process of switching from non-standard to standard
measurement tools. Non-standard measurement serves a valuable process in mastering
measurement. It allows the students to learn the act of measuring without having to learn the
measurement tool at the same time. The concept of using a unifix cube, paper clip or any same
sized item you choose lets the student work on the skill of actually measuring. If you ask a child
learning about measuring to learn the skill of measuring but also ask them to learn the tool at the
same time it can be too much for them to comprehend together.
Non-standard measurement while a valuable teaching tool also should have an expiration date.
This lessons journal entry is the major transfer or understanding the unifix cube measurement
and its similarities to the inch. Through their unifix cube inch comparison children will begin to
comprehend the inch and the ruler and be able to switch to this standard unit of measurement for
future lessons. The stations are an engaging introduction into a valuable journal entry to
demonstrate comprehension.


Plan to assess student learning:
Student Name 0-5 points 5-10 points Points Earned
Measurement
Worksheet
0-3
measurements
correct
4-6
measurements
correct

Journal Entry
One Paragraph
0-3 sentences Minimum of 4
sentences

Journal Entry
contains one
example
Example not
fully explained
or not from this
lesson
A solid example
from this lesson

Journal Entry
Mechanics
Errors with
mechanics and
grammar can
make it difficult
to understand
Follows
mechanical and
grammatical
rules. Easy to
understand

Comparison of
Unifix Cube and
Inch
Weak
comparison with
little detail
Strong
comparison with
relevant details

/50

Different learning styles incorporated:
These math stations involve several teaching and learning styles. The measurement stations
involve hands on active exploration based learning. The journal involves self-reflection and
written communication learning.

Reflection
Math Stations and stations for all subjects are an engaging and entertaining way to add to
learning in the classroom. Along with reinforcing the material they help build conceptual
understanding through hands on, active exploration based learning.
I believe outside of the standards they are learning within stations there are several real-
world concepts to be taught through station based learning. The first is team work. Even if the
work being completed in stations is individual due to the basic design of stations you will have to
somewhat work with or around your classmates. This is similar to most careers. You have to
learn to work with others either directly or indirectly. Stations also help students adapt to
flexibility. They learn to take their learning outside of their desk and worksheets and get
involved, hands on experiences. As the students work through their stations even if they are only
indirectly working with their peers they still have to learn to work among them with the noise
and their opinions flowing. This is just another part of training for the real world.
I see myself using stations a lot in my future classroom. Partly because in my current job
as a Kindergarten Enrichment Teacher and After School Care Director I already do. In my
current position I run my classrooms and instruction time through centers to rotate the kids
through several concepts during one session of our day. Breaking the group into stations allows
me to work with kids more one on one; either through my observation of their learning or
placing myself in one of the stations as teacher directed. Stations also allow for multiple stations
of the same concept for reinforcement or having several concepts within the same unit going on
at the same time.
Stations are a very valuable teaching tool that allows students active discovery and
teachers the ability to focus on smaller groups at a time. I feel stations are valuable in
introducing and wrapping up material. Centers and stations as a learning tool are just one more
method to throw in the tool box for my future classrooms.