Shortest to Longest

In math we learned about measurement.  We took a look at comparing things by size.  I have a fair jar in my class, which I use when I need to choose students for a job, and I want it to be...well fair.  I drew 12 names out of my fair jar.  I asked those students to go around the room and find an object that is good to measure length.  I told them that it could be something that is short or long, but that they needed to make sure that they didn't get the same object as someone else.  The students brought their object to the carpet and we put them in a line.

We sat around the carpet.  I told the students that our goal was to get our objects in order from shortest to longest (we used the line on our carpet to have all objects start).  However, there was a trick.  They were told that they would take turns, each having the opportunity to switch any two objects they wanted, but only two objects in their turn.  They had to remember that they may have to make a move that will help someone else, but maybe not get an object in the correct spot.  We worked until everybody agreed that the objects had been moved into shortest to longest order.  

This is also a great activity to do with capacity.  I have a large variety of bottles in our class rice table.  The students have measuring spoons and funnels that they use to fill the bottles.  This will give them a great idea of how much each bottle will hold.  Have students put the bottles in order until they all agree that they are from smallest to largest.  Then go through and fill each bottle, one by one, using the same measuring spoon to check to see if they are correct.

**The capacity activity was my inspiration for my measurement activity.  I got the lesson from "Little Kids--Powerful Problem Solvers:  Math Stories from a Kindergarten Classroom" by Angela Giglio Andrews and Paul R. Trafton.