Understanding measuring temperature is another real-world skill children explore in the 3rd grade.
MA.3.M.1.1 & MA.3.M.1.2 – Select and use appropriate tools to measure temperature. Solve real-world problems involving any of the four operations with whole-number temperatures.
Measuring Temperature in 3rd Grade
Concepts of hot and cold, comfortable and uncomfortable are truly experiences we have on a daily basis. Giving children a language to use to discuss temperature helps them become more precise in sharing their ideas.
Measuring temperature is also another attribute that can use different number lines, different scales, and digital read-outs that help students further develop their understanding of how things are measured in the world.
Measuring Units of Temperature
Temperature measurements are very straightforward. Customary units are degrees of Fahrenheit and Celsius units are used in most of the rest of the world. Unlike other customary and metric units, Celsius units are not widely used in the USA. Celsius degrees are very different from Fahrenheit and the conversion is very complex.
At the same time, it is valuable for children that there are different ways to measure the same attribute. Observing that some thermometers have two scales, and that the numbering of them is quite different, is a valuable experience even if they never use Celsius to measure temperature.
Temperature as a Measurable Attribute
The temperature of the air is probably the most universally understood temperature, because many people experience it at the same time. However, there are many ways that temperature is used as a measurable attribute. Our bodies have a “normal” temperature of 98.6 degrees F, and if we are too hot or too cold, we are sick.
Food is another common topic where temperature is used on a regular basis. Agriculture, construction, and science all use temperature as a part of their industry. 3rd graders begin to build experiences with temperature that will help them notice it in the environment and use it properly in everyday life. It is another thing to get excited about and share with others.
Standards
Measuring temperature is only addressed in Florida’s B.E.S.T. standards for math. Common Core and TEKs focus more on length, liquid volume, mass, and weight. Given the focus in third grade of reading measurement tools, measuring temperature is a valuable experience that has major relevance in real life!
Students will benefit from measuring with different thermometers (including digital) and building internal benchmarks of noticeable temperatures that will help them with estimation and further growing their understanding.
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