5/29/08

Second-grade students at an Edgemere Math Expedition station see how tall a “cube tower” they can create in 15 seconds.

Who knew a mathematics unit on measurement could be so entertaining?

Borrowing an idea from fifth-grade teacher Sara Rowan, the second grade teachers at Edgemere Elementary School – Carol Toth, Meghan Beam, and Marybeth Krebs – worked together to create fun, hands-on activities to enable students to learn more about measurement. The event they named “The Mathematics Expedition” will become an annual tradition for second-grade classes at Edgemere.

On Wednesday, May 7, parents, volunteers, interns, and students from Rowan’s fifth-grade class came together to make the first Mathematics Expedition a memorable one. The equation was a simple one – put together seven different measurement stations outside on a beautiful day with 78 second graders; it equals lots of fun!

The seven stations included Mini-Golf, Place Value Draw, Cotton Ball Race, Make a Dollar Table, Name Challenge, Strong Man Build, and Frog Long Jump. Volunteers assisted students at each station. Students were expected to record their findings in booklets created by a student teacher.

Edgemere Elementary School students visit seven stations for hands-on activities related to a mathematics unit on measurement.

For each station, there were distinct instructions. Among many of the obvious favorites was the Mini-Golf. The objective of the Mini-Golf station was to putt a golf ball and measure the distance in intervals of 1 foot (or 12 inches).

Students participating in the Frog Long Jump measured their height in feet and inches and then proceeded to see if they could jump the length of their bodies. Yard sticks were used to help measure each individual jump.

Another station, the Strong Man Build, required concentration and quick fingers from the second graders. Students were expected to take cubes and create a tower in 15 seconds. It was timed using stop watches, and the objective was to see how many cubes could be used to create a tower in the amount of time given.

As Toth noted, “It was really a collaborative effort between everyone. The students seemed to really enjoy each station and the hands-on involvement.”

Story by Ashleigh C., a senior at Hereford High School who has interned with the Office of Communications. Photographs courtesy of Edgemere Elementary School.

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