Measurement Newsletter
Dear 3rd Grade Parents,
The 3rd Graders are learning about metric measurement using
the FOSS Measurement Module. We'll
explore the need for standard units, and work with the metric units and tools
used by scientists worldwide. Our
approach will be to introduce the metric system as the language used by
scientists to communicate the results of their observations and experiments.
It has been found that students learn metric units (liter,
gram, meter, degree Celsius) quicker and more thoroughly when they are
introduced as an independent, integrated systems-not converted from the English
customary units (foot, pound, quart, degree Fahrenheit). Our goal is that the metric concepts will
have their own frame of reference in your child's mind, and that in time he or
she will think metric.
Knowing how to measure is important in everyday life as well
as in scientific endeavors. Watch for
the Home/School Connections sheets that I will be sending home from time to
time. These homework assignments suggest
ways for your whole family to review the metric measurements already in common
usage in the United States, and to extend your use of metrics into areas that
are less familiar. At this time the U.S.
is the only major country in the world that does not use metric measurement as
its national standard. It is only a
matter of time before the U.S. adopts the metric system, and the students in
our class will be ready.
We are looking forward to several weeks of activities
designed to provide an interesting introduction to metric measurement. If you have any questions or comments, or
have some metric measuring tools you
would like to share with the class, please drop me a note.
Mrs. Newlin
