Wrap a cloth or plastic tape measure around the arm or waist of a student, or have students wrap the tape measure around limbs of fellow students, to determine the circumference of that body part. Cloth and plastic tape measures are available at most fabric stores. Alternatively, wrap a piece of masking tape around the limb and mark the point where the tape overlaps. Remove the tape and lay it out on a flat surface. Use a tape measure to measure the length of the tape to discover the circumference of the limb in question.
Wrap a cloth or plastic tape measure around the center, or equator, of a Styrofoam sphere to determine the circumference of the sphere. Alternatively, wrap a piece of masking tape around the equator of the sphere; then remove the tape and lay it out on a flat surface. Measure the tape with a tape measure to determine the circumference of the sphere. Cut the Styrofoam sphere in half and repeat the process to measure the diameter of the sphere. For an additional challenge, have students use the measurements to discover the volume of the sphere.
Fill a clear jar with water. Have students use a tape measure to measure the diameter of the jar. Place a piece of tape on the outside of the jar that coincides with the line of the water. Pour 1 cup of the water out of the jar. Place a piece of tape at the new water line. Repeat the process several more times; then have students use a tape measure to measure the distance between each of the water mark lines. Have the students use the measurements to determine the volume of the jar and the volume of the segment between each water mark.
Place a piece of tape on the floor to represent a starting point. Ask each student to jump from the tape mark. Place a second piece of tape at the location that each student lands. Use a tape measure to measure the distance between the initial starting point and each student's landing point. Have students use the measurements to calculate the minimum jumping distance, the maximum jumping distance and the average jumping distance. Another option is to repeat the process above but measure how far students can throw a ball instead of how far they can jump.