Objective:

Students will practice describing measurable attributes such as length and weight by comparing objects in the classroom. They will use hands-on comparisons and computational thinking strategies to describe and analyze multiple measurable attributes of objects, building foundational problem-solving skills.

Materials Needed:

• Classroom objects of various lengths, weights, and sizes (e.g., books, pencils, blocks)

• Chart paper or whiteboard for recording attributes

• Markers for writing descriptions

Steps:

• Introduction:

  • Ask the class, "How can we describe objects around us?"

  • Explain measurable attributes such as length, weight, and height. 

  • Use classroom objects (e.g., a pencil and a book) to demonstrate how to compare these attributes, similar to how computers compare and analyze data. For example, show how the pencil is shorter than the book, but the book is heavier.

• Group Activity:

  • Divide students into small groups and have them select two or three objects from around the classroom. 

  • Ask them to compare their objects based on measurable attributes such as length, height, and weight. 

  • Students can place objects side by side to compare lengths or hold them to determine which is heavier, practicing the concept of comparing data sets as computers do with information.

• Drawing and Recording:

  • After comparing the objects, students will draw pictures of the items and write descriptions of their attributes. 

  • For example, they might write, "The book is longer and heavier than the pencil" or "The block is shorter but heavier than the toy."

  • Discuss how this is similar to how computers use data representations to organize and store information for easier processing.

• Testing and Refining:

  • Once students complete their comparisons, encourage them to review their measurements. 

  • Have them double-check their descriptions and revise any comparisons if needed, similar to how programmers test and refine their code to ensure accuracy.

• Presentation and Discussion:

  • Each group will present their objects and describe the measurable attributes they observed. 

  • Lead a class discussion on how measuring objects helps us understand them better and why these skills are important in everyday life, just like how computers measure and compare data in decision-making processes.

Equity and Access:

Provide a variety of objects that students can easily handle, ensuring all students can participate. Encourage peer collaboration so that all students can contribute to the comparisons and measurements.

Real-World Application:

Connect the lesson to real-life experiences, such as comparing the size of shoes or the weight of bags when traveling. Discuss how understanding measurable attributes helps in everyday tasks, like selecting items that fit a space or determining how much weight to carry. Relate this to how computers help people make decisions by analyzing and comparing data.

CS Practice(s):

• Recognizing and Defining Computational Problems: Students identify measurable attributes (length, weight, height) as criteria for comparing objects in the classroom, similar to how computers use criteria to compare data.

• Developing and Using Abstractions: Students abstract measurable attributes from real-world objects, categorizing them into specific data points (e.g., longer, shorter, heavier, lighter).

Standard(s):

• CA CCSS Mathematics K.MD.1

• CA CS K-2.DA.8

Objective:

Students will practice describing measurable attributes such as length, weight, and height by comparing digital images on a computing device. Through this activity, students will describe several measurable attributes of a single object, develop visual comparisons, and engage in computational thinking by organizing and analyzing digital representations.

Materials Needed:

• Tablets or computers 

• Digital images or shapes 

Steps:

• Introduction:

  • Begin by asking the class, "How do we measure objects around us?" 

  • Explain measurable attributes like length,weight, and height. 

  • Show examples using digital images or objects, such as two animals of different sizes, and ask students to compare them by measurable attributes (e.g., "Which is longer?" or "Which weighs more?").

• Group Activity:

  • Divide students into pairs and have them drag and drop different digital objects into an app such as Figjam or Seesaw. 

  • Students will compare attributes, organizing objects by their measurable qualities like height, length, or weight. 

  • They will label their objects with descriptions like "taller," "heavier," or "shorter," and draw comparisons between them.

• Testing and Refining:

  • After making their comparisons, ask students to review their work to ensure their labels accurately reflect the attributes of the objects. 

  • Encourage them to refine their diagrams or labels if necessary, similar to how programmers debug and refine their code to ensure accuracy.

• Presentation and Discussion:

  • Each group will present their labeled image to the class, explaining the measurable attributes they compared and how they organized the objects. 

  • Lead a class discussion on how using digital tools helped them visualize and compare objects, drawing connections to how computers use attributes to process and organize data.

Equity and Access:

Provide templates with pre-arranged digital objects for students who need additional support. Pair students with varying digital fluency to encourage peer learning.

Real-World Application:

Discuss how we use measurable attributes in everyday situations, such as comparing the height of furniture or weighing groceries. Emphasize that understanding attributes helps with real-life decision-making and problem-solving, similar to how computers compare data to process information.

CS Practice(s):

• Recognizing and Defining Computational Problems: Students identify measurable attributes (e.g., height, weight) and organize digital objects based on these characteristics, learning how to approach problems methodically.

• Developing and Using Abstractions: Students use digital representations to abstract real-world objects, categorizing and describing them by measurable attributes just as computers abstract data for processing.

Standard(s):

• CA CCSS Mathematics K.MD.1

• CA CS K-2.DA.8