Objective:
The students will measure and weigh different substances.

Materials

• Dry sand - enough for each pair of students to have 1-2 cups.

• Wet sand - enough for each pair of students to have 1-2 cups.

• Water - enough for each pair of students to have 1-2 cups.

• Measuring cups - two 1 cup measuring cups per pair.

• Balance scales - one per pair of students.

• Beach Math Worksheet

Procedure

1. Divide the class into pairs.  (For younger students, you may want to do this as a teacher demonstration or as a whole class activity.)

2. Pass out the materials.

3. Discuss how both sand and water are found at the beach.  

4. Introduce or review with the students how to measure the dry and wet ingredients into the measuring cups.

5. Have the students complete the Beach Math Worksheet in pairs or as a whole class.

Other Lesson Ideas

1. As an alternative to the above lesson, have the students measure out different amounts of sand and/or water.  Use a variety of measuring cups and have the students answer questions such as "How many 1/2 cups equal 1 cup?", etc.

2. Have the students build sand castles.  Pass out rulers and have them measure the height and the width of their castles.

3. Bring in beach balls and have the students measure their circumference.

4. Complete math problems using shells as manipulatives.