TITLE:   
 Big Foot

CONTENT  AREAS:   
 Mathematics

GRADE  LEVEL:   
 4

MATERIALS   NEEDED:   
 ¼” graph paper

KEY   CONCEPTS:   
 measuring area

EALR'S:   
 GLE 1.2.1 * Measure perimeter and area for regular and irregular shapes  

GOALS:   
 Students will gain understanding of square unit measurement

OBJECTIVES:   
 After students each trace their foot on graph paper they will approximate the area in square inches.

PROCEDURES: 

• Introduction/Preassessment

     Show students a one inch square die.  Measure it in several directions, speaking aloud about it being one inch in every direction.  Press the die in an ink pad, and make a print.  Announce to the class that it is a one inch foot print.

Arrange students in small groups.    

• Activity

Pass out graph paper to students in groups.

Have students help each other trace each other’s footprint on the graph paper.

Have students count the number of squares their footprint covers.  They can keep track of the squares they count by coloring in each square as they count it.

Allow student groups to decide how to deal with squares that are partially covered by a footprint.

Have students recrd their data on the footprint, and post the footprints on the classroom wall.

• Closure

   Have the student volunteers explain how they solved the problems of the partially covered squares.  (Count only whole squares?  Count only those at least half coved?  Combine partially covered squares to make whole squares?)
    
 

POST-ASSESSMENT   
     Recorded data on size of footprint and footprint artifact provide formative assessment.