Measurement Analysis: How Big Is The Bus

When measuring objects to identify such means as length, width and height, both formal and informal units of measurement can be utilised.
The chosen resource to further analyse is ABC’s Flynn and Dodleys measurement episode, ‘How Big is the Bus’ (1999). Pop sticks are used within this episode to informally measure the height, width and length of a toy bus. Informal units of measurements such as paper clips, blocks and match sticks could be used to assist in measuring the bus, however, as Flynn discovers when aligning the pop sticks, the object must be aligned closely from one end with no overlaps or gaps to achieve an accurate reading. In correspondent, formal units such as rulers and tape measure could also be used to measures the bus as reading from the scale will show the accurate size.
It is essential that students are shown and taught the difference between formal and informal measurement procedures (Van de Walle, 2014). When students have inadequate knowledge of both methods the potential of misconceptions surrounding how to measure will increase …show more content…
This will then support the intended learning focus and enhance a student’s ZPD. Lack of student engagement within mathematics can lead to underachievement within the subject. This resource provides a high level of engagement with students, encouraging the pedagogical ideas addressed in the course. Through a stimulus cartoon video, simple language terms and mathematical terms, it is identified that this resource can adapt to all learning styles, differentiation and diversity (Frondeville, 2009). This resource can be used to increase a student’s engagement within mathematics, measurement and geometry as the cartoon video offers interaction, development of visual literacy, is at a level of students’ understanding and is acceptable for specific