CM
10
20
0
Start Major Mid Minor
0 10 5 1
Read Me!
30
40
Minor Value
1 8
Measuring
How it works.
1
a Changing the
scale
b Changing the
unit
c Changing the
value
d Hiding and
showing the
values
Ideas for
2 use.
a Mini
Whiteboards.
b Pairs
Measuring
The Measuring workbook is aimed at improving students understanding of reading a variety of
scales.
The scale can be changed in a number of ways. The first way is to change the starting value
on the scale. This is done by clicking the spinner next to the start value. It can be set to a
negative value to look at temperature. The gap between the major divisions can also be
changed. Click the spinner next to the major value, it can take a variety of useful values. The
The units can be changed by highlighting the current units and typing the new unit in.
The value that the blue line shows can be changed by clicking on the spinner next to the
value box. The increment depends upon the scale settings.
Each of the values, Start, Major, Mid, Minor and Value can be shown or hidden
independently. To do this, just click on the cell to toggle between show and hide.
This is a list of possible uses in the classroom. The resource has been designed to be
flexible and interactive. It is mainly for use on interactive whiteboards, though not exclusively.
This list is by no means exhaustive, it is just a few ideas.
Show the worksheet with all the values hidden. Ask students to write down what the major
divisions go up by, then the mid divisions and finally the minor divisions. Then ask them to
write down the length of the blue line. Show these values to check, then hide the value
number again. Changing the value ask the students to find the length of the line again.
In a computer lab, ask the students to open the workbook. Get one student to hide all the
values and set the length of the blue line. The other student is to find the length of the line.
The students should check the answer and then swap over. Alternatively, with all the values
hidden, one student asks the other to set the line to a given length. They check, then swap
over. Encourage the students to change the scale inbetween turns for both these activities.