The measurement strand is one of the most practical strands of the curriculum and offers teachers considerable opportunity to provide 'realistic' examples for their students. This module includes teaching models of two common misconceptions in the measurement strand.
Length & Area | Volume & Capacity
Students often believe that area and perimeter (length) are linked so that if the perimeter increases, so too will the area. Or, that if the perimeter stays constant, so too does the area. However, a simple demonstration of a square with a given area is gradually 'pushed' over so that the sides are flat (and with an area of zero units). Usually equipment such as geoboards and blocks can be very useful to model this misconception and create a learning opportunity for students to appreciate the independence of the ideas.
Students often have difficulty comparing different measures used when measuring volume of solids and liquid measures. Links between smaller measures (mLs and cm3) and larger measures (L and m3) are explored in a practical manner.
