Measures Make Arithmetic Meaningful

“MEASUREMENT IN LIFE” was the title of one of our recent units in arithmetic. Prior to studying this unit, most of our class members had only vague ideas about the real value of measurement in everyday living. At the beginning of the unit, we discussed some of our own ideas as to where and how measurement was used throughout the world. We knew, of course, that carpenters measured with rulers and tapes and some in the class mentioned that the housewife used measurements when she used recipes in cooking and baking. As our study of measurements progressed, however, our knowledge of measurement and its value in many occupations took on more and more meaning. Our teacher, Mr. Norton, asked each member of the class to search the house for any measuring device that could be brought to school. Believe me, we soon discovered that the ruler and yardstick weren't the only measuring devices being used. Some of the class members brought instruments that most of us had never heard of or seen before. For example, three boys brought micrometers. Although most of the class had not heard of the micrometer before, all of us soon learned that the “mike” was a precision instrument used by many different people such as the machinist, geologist, metal worker, and factory worker. All of us learned the parts of the “mike” and also how to measure with it. We were really surprised to find that we could measure the thickness of a hair on our head; mine was 3/ 1000 of an inch thick. Some of the class members had difficulty in learning to read the instrument at first, but it wasn't long before all of us knew all about the “mike.” In the process of finding out the interesting things about the “mike,” we studied and learned how to work with decimal fractions. My sister had told me that decimals were hard, but I didn't think so even though arithmetic was one of my hardest subjects last year. In fact, I thought decimals were fun and you certainly have to know them to use a micrometer.