Who Sank the Boat?-Ounces and Grams

A lesson plan to teach concept of measurement using grams and ounces through a student-created experiment.  The student creates an aluminum foil boat to sail, and predicts how many ounces and grams it will take to sink their ship using marbles and/or paperclips. This information is then charted into a  graph to find a correlation between ounces and grams. This lesson provides students with an interactive way to learn about weight and buoyancy. Who Sank the Boat? is also a tradebook by Pamela Allen that can or cannot be used with this lesson.

Standards & Objectives

Academic standards
CCSS.Math.Content.3.MD.A.1
Tell and write time to the nearest minute and measure time intervals in minutes. Solve word problems involving addition and subtraction of time...
CCSS.Math.Content.3.MD.A.2
Measure and estimate liquid volumes and masses of objects using standard units of grams (g), kilograms (kg), and liters (l).1 Add, subtract,...
CCSS.Math.Content.3.MD.B.3
Draw a scaled picture graph and a scaled bar graph to represent a data set with several categories. Solve one- and two-step "how many more" and...
CCSS.Math.Content.3.MD.B.4
Generate measurement data by measuring lengths using rulers marked with halves and fourths of an inch. Show the data by making a line plot, where...
CCSS.Math.Content.3.MD.C.5
Recognize area as an attribute of plane figures and understand concepts of area measurement.
CCSS.Math.Content.4.MD.A.1
Know relative sizes of measurement units within one system of units including km, m, cm; kg, g; lb, oz.; l, ml; hr, min, sec. Within a single...
CCSS.Math.Content.4.MD.A.2
Use the four operations to solve word problems involving distances, intervals of time, liquid volumes, masses of objects, and money, including...
CCSS.Math.Content.4.MD.B.4
Make a line plot to display a data set of measurements in fractions of a unit (1/2, 1/4, 1/8). Solve problems involving addition and subtraction of...
CCSS.Math.Content.4.NF.A.2
Compare two fractions with different numerators and different denominators, e.g., by creating common denominators or numerators, or by comparing to...
CCSS.Math.Content.4.NF.B.3
Understand a fraction a/b with a > 1 as a sum of fractions 1/b.
CCSS.Math.Content.4.NF.B.4
Apply and extend previous understandings of multiplication to multiply a fraction by a whole number.
CCSS.Math.Content.4.OA.A.3
Solve multistep word problems posed with whole numbers and having whole-number answers using the four operations, including problems in which...
CCSS.Math.Content.5.MD.A.1
Convert among different-sized standard measurement units within a given measurement system (e.g., convert 5 cm to 0.05 m), and use these...
CCSS.Math.Content.5.MD.B.2
Make a line plot to display a data set of measurements in fractions of a unit (1/2, 1/4, 1/8). Use operations on fractions for this grade to solve...
CCSS.Math.Content.5.NBT.B.5
Fluently multiply multi-digit whole numbers using the standard algorithm.
CCSS.Math.Content.5.NF.B.3
Interpret a fraction as division of the numerator by the denominator (a/b = a / b). Solve word problems involving division of whole numbers leading...
CCSS.Math.Content.5.NF.B.4
Apply and extend previous understandings of multiplication to multiply a fraction or whole number by a fraction.
CCSS.Math.Content.5.NF.B.7
Apply and extend previous understandings of division to divide unit fractions by whole numbers and whole numbers by unit fractions.1
GLE 0306.1.5
Use mathematical ideas and processes in different settings to formulate patterns, analyze graphs, set up and solve problems and interpret solutions.
GLE 0306.2.6
Use various strategies and models to compare and order fractions and identify equivalent fractions.
GLE 0306.2.7
Add and subtract fractions with like denominators using various models.
GLE 0306.4.5
Solve measurement problems involving fractional parts of linear units and capacity units.
GLE 0306.5.1
Organize, display, and analyze data using various representations to solve problems.
GLE 0406.1.2
Apply and adapt a variety of appropriate strategies to problem solving, including estimation, and reasonableness of the solution.
GLE 0406.2.2
Develop fluency with multiplication and single-digit division.
GLE 0406.2.5
Add and subtract fractions with like and unlike denominators.
GLE 0406.2.6
Solve problems involving whole numbers, fractions, and/or decimals using all four arithmetic operations.
GLE 0406.4.2
Understand and use measures of length, area, capacity, and weight.
GLE 0406.4.3
Solve problems that involve estimating and measuring length, area, capacity and weight.
GLE 0406.5.1
Collect, record, arrange, present, and interpret data using tables and various representations.
GLE 0506.2.4
Develop fluency with addition and subtraction of proper and improper fractions and mixed numbers; explain and model the algorithm.
GLE 0506.4.4
Solve problems that require attention to both approximation and precision of measurement.
GLE 0506.5.1
Make, record, display and interpret data and graphs that include whole numbers, decimals, and fractions.
SPI 0306.1.2
Solve problems involving elapsed time.
SPI 0306.1.8
Express answers clearly in verbal, numerical, or graphical (bar and picture) form, using units when appropriate.
SPI 0306.2.14
Add and subtract fractions with like denominators.
SPI 0306.4.5
Choose reasonable units of measure, estimate common measurements using benchmarks, and use appropriate tools to make measurements.
SPI 0306.4.6
Measure length to the nearest centimeter or half inch.
SPI 0306.5.1
Interpret a frequency table, bar graph, pictograph, or line plot.
SPI 0306.5.2
Solve problems in which data is represented in tables or graph.
SPI 0306.5.3
Make predictions based on various representations of data.
SPI 0406.2.10
Solve contextual problems using whole numbers, fractions, and decimals.
SPI 0406.2.11
Solve problems using whole number multi-digit multiplication.
SPI 0406.2.5
Generate equivalent forms of common fractions and decimals and use them to compare size.
SPI 0406.2.6
Use the symbols and = to compare common fractions and decimals in both increasing and decreasing order.
SPI 0406.2.8
Add and subtract proper fractions with like and unlike denominators and simplify the answer.
SPI 0406.3.1
Use letters and symbols to represent an unknown quantity and write a simple mathematical expression
SPI 0406.4.7
Determine appropriate size of unit of measurement in problem situations involving length, capacity or weight.
SPI 0406.4.8
Convert measurements within a single system that are common in daily life (e.g., hours and minutes, inches and feet, centimeters and meters, quarts and gallons,...
SPI 0406.5.1
Depict data using various representations (e.g., tables, pictographs, line graphs, bar graphs).
SPI 0406.5.2
Solve problems using estimation and comparison within a single set of data.
TSS.Math.3.MD.A.1
Tell and write time to the nearest minute and measure time intervals in minutes. Solve contextual problems involving addition and subtraction of time...
TSS.Math.3.MD.A.2
Measure the mass of objects and liquid volume using standard units of grams (g), kilograms (kg), milliliters (ml), and liters (l). Estimate the mass of ...
TSS.Math.3.MD.B.3
Draw a scaled pictograph and a scaled bar graph to represent a data set with several categories. Solve one- and two-step how many more and how many less...
TSS.Math.3.MD.B.4
Generate measurement data by measuring lengths using rulers marked with halves and fourths of an inch. Show the data by making a line plot, where the...
TSS.Math.3.MD.C.5
Recognize that plane figures have an area and understand concepts of area measurement.
TSS.Math.4.MD.A.1
Measure and estimate to determine relative sizes of measurement units within a single system of measurement involving length, liquid volume, and mass/weight...
TSS.Math.4.MD.A.2
Solve one- or two-step real-world problems involving whole number measurements with all four operations within a single system of measurement including...
TSS.Math.4.MD.B.4
Make a line plot to display a data set of measurements in fractions of a unit (1/2, 1/4, 1/8). Use operations on fractions for this grade to solve problems...
TSS.Math.4.NF.A.2
Compare two fractions with different numerators and different denominators by creating common denominators or common numerators or by comparing to a...
TSS.Math.4.NF.B.3
Understand a fraction a/b with a > 1 as a sum of fractions 1/b. For example, 4/5 = 1/5 + 1/5 + 1/5 + 1/5.
TSS.Math.4.NF.B.4
Apply and extend previous understandings of multiplication as repeated addition to multiply a whole number by a fraction.
TSS.Math.4.OA.A.3
Solve multi-step contextual problems posed with whole numbers and having whole-number answers using the four operations, including problems in which...
TSS.Math.5.MD.A.1
Convert customary and metric measurement units within a single system by expressing measurements of a larger unit in terms of a smaller unit. Use these...
TSS.Math.5.MD.B.2
Make a line plot to display a data set of measurements in fractions of a unit (1/2, 1/4, 1/8). Use operations on fractions for this grade to solve problems...
TSS.Math.5.NBT.B.5
Fluently multiply multi-digit whole numbers (up to three-digit by four-digit factors) using appropriate strategies and algorithms.
TSS.Math.5.NF.B.3
Interpret a fraction as division of the numerator by the denominator (a/b = a ÷ b). For example, 3/4 = 3 ÷ 4 so when 3 wholes are shared equally...
TSS.Math.5.NF.B.4
Apply and extend previous understandings of multiplication to multiply a fraction by a whole number or a fraction by a fraction.
TSS.Math.5.NF.B.7
Apply and extend previous understandings of division to divide unit fractions by whole numbers and whole numbers by unit fractions.
 
Alignment of this item to academic standards is based on recommendations from content creators, resource curators, and visitors to this website. It is the responsibility of each educator to verify that the materials are appropriate for your content area, aligned to current academic standards, and will be beneficial to your specific students.
 
Learning objectives: 
  • Students will make predictions using the tradebook, Who Sank the Boat? by Pamela Allen. Also, students will create a buoyancy experiment and explore measurement through scientific observations. Last, students will explore measurement (grams, liters, inches, meters, etc.) through math discoveries.

Lesson Variations

Blooms taxonomy level: 
Understanding

Helpful Hints

Materials and Resources:

  • The book, Who Sank the Boat? by Pamela Allen
  • mouse finger puppet
  • 1-ounce hex weight
  • 5 sailboats with sails
  • small tub 
  • tinfoil
  • rulers
  • scale
  • paper clips

References

Contributors: