Divide the students into teams of three. Provide each group with a ruler, a yardstick and a measuring tape. Give each child a worksheet with a list of specific body parts to be measured -- length of foot, width of hand, height from floor to knee, circumference of waist, etc.
Instruct the students to choose one team member to be measured. The other two will determine which measuring tool will work best, and work together to calculate the height, width, length or circumference of the various body parts listed on the worksheet. Switch roles so that all three take a turn to be measured.
Provide each group with a new list of items to be measured. All three team members will work together to ascertain the dimensions of the classroom walls, desks, whiteboard, etc. Expand upon this activity by modifying the list each day so that the items to be measured extend to the cafeteria, hallways and even the playground.
Set up a "Weigh Station" with a bathroom scale and food scale. Fill a container with items to be weighed that do not have "size to weight" correlation, such as a beach ball and a small, lead weight. Students will have to decide which scale to use by estimating whether the object weighs a pound or more, or less than 16 oz. Each student will record their findings on their worksheet.
Place bins containing small items next to a balance scale. The students will create math equations by placing objects in both pans of the scale and noting the results: four pencils = one pair of scissors, one glue stick = two markers. Each student will record 10 equations on their worksheet
Create a liquid measurement station. Place a gallon, quart, pint and 2-liter container, as well as measuring cups next to the sink. The students will experiment with volume and liquid capacity by filling the various containers and completing tasks that require conversion between standard and metric units.