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The Presentation |
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| According to The World Book Encyclopedia, weights and measures are units used to express the size of things. We in America use inch-pound system of measurement and were derived (in England) from older measurement units beginning about 1200’s. This system is also known as the English system or customary system and the United States is the only major country using the customarily system. People in other countries use the Metric system. The Metric system was created in France in 1790’s. The ancient Mediterranean systems used body measurements for linear measurements. Weight units were determined by how much a human or animal could carry. In ancient Egypt, about 3000 BC, the cubit was formed. The cubit was calculated from the length from the extended fingertips to the tip of the elbow and was used as a standard of linear measurements. In the first millennium BC the Greek unit of measurement for length was the width of a finger, 16 fingers equaled 30 centimeters (one foot). Also at that time the Romans divided the foot into 12 unicae, which was the first time this form of division was used. The Roman system consisted of the unit of weight was the libra, the pound, and the unit of distance, the mile. The liquid weight was basted on the pinte and dry measure was the quart. King Henry I in 1220 defined a yard measurement was from the tip of his nose to the tip of his outstretched fingers (how many used this method today to measure a yard). An acre was defined by how much land an oxen could plow in a day. In 1830 the construction of standards was begun by the Office of Standard Weights and Measures. In 1975 the United States Congress passed the Metric Conversion Act. This called for a voluntary change over to the metric system. By the end of 1992 this conversion had begun. Today this conversion is still gaining momentum. |
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| ACTIVITY | ||||
| How many measuring tools can your participant's name? 1. Types of measuring tools a. measuring spoons & cups - cooking b. rain gage- measures rain c. thermometer - measuring temperature d. bathroom scales - human weight e. plum line- measuring walls f. electric, water, gas meters g. watch & clocks - time h. barometer - atmospheric pressure i. seismograph - measures earth movements j. transit - a surveying instrument that measure angles k. yard stick - measuring a yard l. fingers - pinch , as in pinch of salt j. clock- seconds, minutes, hours How many units of measure can your participant's name? 2. Measuring units a. length and distance - inch, foot, yard, furlong, international statute mile, statute, league b. nautical - span, fathom, cable, international nautical mile, nautical league, knot c. surveyor’s or gunter’s - chain, link, chain furlong, surveyor mile d. surface or area - inch, foot, yard, rod, acre, mile e. volume and capacity - cubic inch, cubic foot, cubic yard f. height and mass - grain, dram, ounce, pound, hundred weight, short ton g. apothecaries’ weight - grain, scruple, dram. ounce, pound h. troy weight -grain, pennyweight, ounce, pound. i. liquid - ounce, pint, quart, gallon j. time- seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years What is the meaning of the following measurements A country mile Whole nine yards A little while Just a couple of minutes
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| OBJECTIVES Mental stimulation - differentiate between types of measurements, types of tools for measuring Group interaction - working on measuring for crafts, cooking etc. activities Hand and eye coordination - if measuring ingredients for cooking, fabric for sewing, etc. Group discussion - discussion on what equal what to make an ounce, quart, foot, ton, etc. Numerical recognition- identifying numbers on measurement instruments SUPPLIES Visual aids: ruler, yard stick, tape measure, measuring cup, measuring spoons, balance scale, bathroom scale, thermometer, rain gage, plum line, barometer, etc. RESOURCES WEIGHTS & MEASURES: Their Ancient Origins and Their Developments in Great Britain up to AD 1885, written by Frederick George Skinner, copyright © 1967 FOR GOOD MEASURE: A complete Compendium of International Weights & Measures, written by William D. Johnstone, copyright © 1975 THE WORLD BOOK ENCYCLOPEDIA, copyright © 1994 Volume 21 (pp 184 has a list of miscellaneous weights and measure that are really interesting, such as light-year, carat, butt and chaldron) COMPTON’S LIVING ENCYCLOPEDIA - on America On-Line using the terms measurements or measurement tools |
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URL’S http://www.npl.co.uk/npl/overview/quincy.html http://chemserv.bc.edu/weights-n-measures.html http://www.cei.net/~terry/auntedna/weights_txt.html OTHER SUGGESTIONS Correlate with taking monthly resident or participants weights Weighting a variety of items to find their weight Make a pound cake ©1996 SeniorACT |
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