Rainbow Bead Rulers

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Linear Measurement
Rainbow Bead Rulers
Enliven measurement practice
by inviting students to make their
own colorful rulers using beads.
1.
Materials
Materials
Give each student a pony bead and a ruler. Tell students to place
the bead on their desk so that the holes are on each side. Ask them
to estimate the width of the bead and then use a ruler to measure.
For each ruler:
1
(A pony bead is exactly -inch wide.) Ask: “How many beads would
4
two 12-inch pipe
you need to measure one inch?” (4 ) “How many would you need
cleaners
to measure 6 inches?” (24 ) Tell students that they are going to
ruler
make their own colorful 6-inch rulers using pony beads.
24 pony beads,
2.
assorted colors
Divide the class into small groups. Provide each group with a bowl
of pony beads. Give each student two pipe cleaners, a paper plate,
paper plate
and a copy of the chart. Then have students follow these steps:
Measurement Chart,
page 72
Count 24 beads and place them on your plate. For each
group of four, choose the same color, and then alternate or
use contrasting colors for the other groups.
Starting at one end, twist the two
pipe cleaners together to create a
three-inch section. Bend to form
that section into a loop. Then,
Teaching Tips
holding the two pipe cleaners
together, string the beads on them
Students can use a fine-
in groups of four, alternating
tip permanent marker
to record the inches on
colors to demarcate each inch.
their ruler by numbering
every fourth bead, if
When finished stringing all 24
desired.
beads, push the beads together tightly, and twist the remaining
For accuracy, tell
section of the two pipe cleaners together and form a loop.
students to hold the
loop at each end of
Estimate the length of each item on the chart and record your
their ruler and gently
1
estimate. Then use your ruler to measure it. Use the -inch
pull the ruler taut when
4
bead increments to measure to the nearest quarter-inch. Add
measuring.
other items to your chart and estimate and measure them, too.
71
71

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