Encouraging 4th graders' understanding and using of measuring units

Ajda Šimonka (2014) Encouraging 4th graders' understanding and using of measuring units. Diploma thesis.

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Abstract

We all meet units of measurement in various areas throughout life. First we encounter them at school and later on we incorporate them in everyday life, while many people use them in their professions. The aim of this project was to bring closer to students and teachers the teaching contents of measuring units. I wished to give new views and understandings of the contents of the measurements as well as using measuring units at school and everyday life. In addition, I wished to improve and refresh the students knowledge of converting units of measurement through the teaching approach and didactic games. There were three main stages of the project: initially I tested students existing knowledge of measuring units. Based on these results I designed the study approach using didactic games to encourage students understanding of units of measurement and refresh their knowledge. In the third part the students were given the second test of their knowledge, which was used to evaluate their progress. There was 23 students 4th graders' from primary school Škofljica included in this study. Analysis of the test results and study approaches showed that students have most problems with converting measuring units for mass and time and least problems with converting units of money. Following this study the majority of students progressed in their knowledge of measuring units. The largest improvements were shown at tasks dealing with converting measuring units for mass and time, but they also improved their knowledge of measuring units of volume and money.

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