Mrs. Kathy Devus – Ritzman CLC

Measuring at the Akron Zoo

My third graders were presented with a problem to solve. What size box will be needed to ship their alligators? This activity followed a unit on transportation where they learned “cheaper… faster.”

Mrs. Kathy Devus – Ritzman CLC

Measuring at the Akron Zoo

Each group was assigned a polymer alligator to measure. The alligators were kept in water and measured over a period of five days. They grew each day.

Mrs. Kathy Devus – Ritzman CLC

Measuring at the Akron Zoo

Mrs. Kathy Devus – Ritzman CLC

The children used laminated centimeter paper to help with their measuring. They calculated area, perimeter, and volume to

determine their box dimensions.

Measuring at the Akron Zoo

Mrs. Kathy Devus – Ritzman CLC

They graphed their results over the five-day period.

Measuring at the Akron Zoo

Mrs. Kathy Devus – Ritzman CLC

Their graphs were then displayed in the hall. Once they understood how to measure their polymer alligators they were ready for real animals!

Measuring at the Akron Zoo

Mrs. Kathy Devus – Ritzman CLC

I received a Target Field Trip Grant which covered admission and the extra cost of working with the animals. Students learned about 5 animals and were permitted to measure those animals.

Measuring at the Akron Zoo

Mrs. Kathy Devus – Ritzman CLC

The class measured length, weight, height, and width of the 5 animals.

Measuring at the Akron Zoo

Mrs. Kathy Devus – Ritzman CLC

• The animals were laid on paper, marks were made at the ends, and those marks were measured to determine length.

Measuring at the Akron Zoo

Mrs. Kathy Devus – Ritzman CLC

Rulers and scales were also used.

Measuring at the Akron Zoo

Mrs. Kathy Devus – Ritzman CLC

Everyone participated and took turns with the animals.

Measuring at the Akron Zoo

Students measured a tortoise, a guinea pig, a bearded dragon lizard, a millipede, a hissing cockroach, and a rat snake.

Mrs. Kathy Devus – Ritzman CLC

Measuring at the Akron Zoo

Mrs. Kathy Devus – Ritzman CLC

Back at school, the groups discussed which attribute they wanted to graph and then created their scales and graphs.

Measuring at the Akron Zoo

Mrs. Kathy Devus – Ritzman CLC

Measuring at the Akron Zoo

Here are some sample graphs.

Mrs. Kathy Devus – Ritzman CLC

Measuring at the Akron Zoo

Our Awesome Class!

Mrs. Kathy Devus – Ritzman CLC

Thanks to the Target

Corporation for supporting

dreams!

Measuring at the Akron Zoo

We are the first class to ask to measure animals at the zoo. The zoo is planning to add this measurement opportunity to their list of available activities for groups.