Measuring Fun

Looking through the CCSS objectives for this unit, all I could think of was that no one really needs to memorize the units of liquid capacity any more.  If you don't know those, just "google" it.  I realize kids need to have an idea of the magnitude of these, but really, do they need to memorize them?  Those ideas combined with the fact that we are in the last 2 weeks of school made me realize it was time to shake this up a bit. 
There is a great BrainPoP video for customary measurement.  We watched that and kids took notes.  I really need to remember to add more of these videos to my lessons.  They are short and snappy, and very engaging.
So, why not sing and play games to learn these?
I have to credit a former colleague for teaching me the gallon song.  Kids love this because it involves singing and our own version of sign language or acting it out.  So we sang and danced.  Students were guest conductors and enjoyed leading everyone in the song. 
Next, students created games to teach linear, fluids, or weight measurements.  They researched in pairs and found fun-facts to teach these concepts.  They also wrote lyrics and tunes to teach the class.  I have to say that a few of them were actually really good rap songs.  They had a great time doing this and I think they actually learned something along the way. 
As they progress through their math classes, they may not remember exactly how many cups in a pint, but they might remember the crazy song we sang or better yet, the rap songs they wrote!  After all, isn't it about making them think?

Dancing to the Ordered Pairs

Many thanks to a former colleage who had a knack for making math a little different!  She wrote a PowerPoint program for dancing to the ordered pairs.  I never would have thought to have kids move kinesthetically to identify the coordinate for each ordered pair. 
With the group I have this year, I really didn't know how this would go.  Let me tell you, they loved it. Of course they did!  I think this group understands the quadrants better now too.
I will definitely use this program again.