Detailed Lesson Plan for Year 7 Maths: Measurement with a Focus on the Olympics and Matariki

Curriculum Context

This lesson plan is designed for Year 7 students in New Zealand, aligning with the New Zealand Curriculum standards for Mathematics and Statistics. It is tailored to incorporate a Measurement unit in Term 2, with themes focussing on the Olympics and Matariki. Students will engage with measurement concepts through contexts that are culturally relevant and interesting.

Reference to the New Zealand Curriculum:

• Strand: Measurement
• Level: Level 4, fits Year 7 students
• Achievement Objectives: Students will use linear scales and whole numbers of metric units for length, area, volume and capacity, weight (mass), temperature, and time. They will also learn to position and orientate shapes in space. NZ Maths Curriculum

Lesson Overview

Duration:

50 minutes

Number of Students:

21 students

Lesson Objectives:

By the end of the session, students will be able to:

1. Understand the importance and relevance of measurement in everyday contexts, including sports and cultural celebrations.
2. Measure different objects/events using appropriate metric units and tools.
3. Apply their understanding of measurement in planning a mini-Olympic and Matariki festival event.

Lesson Details

1. Introduction (10 minutes)

• Brief Discussion: Engage students with a discussion on the significance of the Olympics and Matariki in New Zealand. Explain how measurement plays a critical role in sports (e.g., timing races, measuring jump lengths) and cultural events (e.g., food preparation, layout of festival sites).
• Link to Curriculum: Highlight how this session will help them meet specific curriculum objectives related to measurement.

2. Activity - Olympic Measurements (15 minutes)

• Task: Students will rotate through stations measuring items related to sports. Stations include:

  • Long Jump: Measure the distance of a taped jump in the classroom.
  • High Jump: Measure the height of a stack of books using a ruler.
  • Running: Use a stopwatch to time a 30-meter dash in the schoolyard.

• Materials Needed:

  • Metric tape measures
  • Stopwatches
  • Rulers

3. Group Discussion (10 minutes)

• Gather the class and discuss their findings from the activity.
• Ask guided questions to reflect on the usage of different units of measure (centimetres, metres, seconds).

4. Matariki Festival Planning (10 minutes)

• Task: In groups, students will plan a layout for a Matariki festival using their knowledge of area and perimeter.

• Each group receives a map of a hypothetical festival ground and uses rulers to allocate space for different activities (e.g., food stalls, viewing areas, performance stages).

• Materials Needed:

  • Printed maps of festival layout
  • Rulers
  • Pencils

5. Conclusion and Reflection (5 minutes)

• Recap what was learned about the importance of accurate measurement.
• Discuss how these skills can be applied in real-world scenarios beyond the classroom.

Assessment

• Formative assessment during activities through observation and questioning.
• Groups present their Matariki festival plan to assess understanding of area and perimeter.

Additional Resources

• NZ Maths - Measurement Activities
• Te Papa - Matariki and the Stars (for cultural context)

Adaptations for Diverse Learners

• Provide visual aids and hands-on materials for students with learning differences.
• Offer extension tasks for advanced students, such as calculating the volume of objects used in sports.

This lesson plan integrates crucial curriculum standards with engaging, culturally relevant themes to enhance student learning and appreciation for measurement in diverse contexts.