The History of Measurements: An Online Treasure Hunt for
1st Year High School (Mathematics)
Authored by P. Arinto
Introduction
Have you ever wondered how the units of measure we use today came about? Where
did the inch come from? Who first started using the meter? Who decided that the
kilo should be the unit of measure for weight? Why do we measure time in
seconds?
We tend to take standard units of measure for granted. If we knew how difficult
things used to be because people measured things differently, we would be more
appreciative of our current system of measuring things.
In this activity, we will find out how the standard system of measurement we use
today evolved or developed. We will find out the origins of certain units of
measure and how and why the old units of measure have been replaced.
The activity is simple. Working in groups of three members each, you will look
for the answers to some questions in the websites given below (under Online
Resources). The sequencing of the websites is not the same as the sequencing of
questions. It is best that you read the questions several times to make sure you
understand each and then read the websites to look for the answers. Simply click
on the URL or address to access the website.
When you have found all of the answers to all of the questions, answer the Big
Question found at the bottom of this page.
Remember to work together as a group. Make sure everybody gets to participate in
this activity.
Questions
- Who invented the oldest place value system known to humankind? What is the
difference between this place value system and the one we use today?
- What was the principal reason for the decline in the use of body parts in
measuring things?
- Precious stones are measured in carats. Where did the word carat come
from?
- Which prefix in the metric system means one part of a hundred?
- How many mana are there in 10 kilos of rice?
- How are improvements to the metric system made?
Resources
Babylonian (Mathematics)
http://hvhs.nbed.nb.ca/hodgin/number_systems/babylonian.htm
Old Babylonian Weights and Measures
http://it.stlawu.edu/~dmelvill/mesomath/obmetrology.html
History of Measurement
http://ellerbruch.nmu.edu/CS255/JONIEMI/metricsystem.html
A History of Measurement and Metrics
http://www.cftech.com/BrainBank/OTHERREFERENCE/WEIGHTSandMEASURES/MetricHistory.html
Department of Weights and Measures: General Information
http://www.brocktonmass.com/weights/history.html
History of Measurement
http://www.bnm.fr/version_anglaise/pages/measurement/history.htm
The Big Question
One of the things we learned from reading the online resources or websites given
above is that before the adoption of a universal system, different groups of
people developed different units of measure. Find out what unusual (not
following the metric system) units of measure have been or are being used by
Filipinos (for example, using sardine cans instead of regular cups to measure
how much rice to cook). Ancient units of measure, or those used by early
Filipinos, are included.
Pick one traditional Filipino unit of measure (there are many areas to choose
from: time, volume, length, weight, temperature, etc.) and write about it in a
report. Describe the unit of measure you chose in terms of when, where and how
it is/was used; what it is/was made of; and what is the equivalent modern unit
of measure. Include a photo or drawing.
Sources of information you can use are books, magazines, and websites, as well
as local experts whom you can interview, such as your grandmother or grandfather
and people who sell things in the market. Be sure to include a list of your
sources in your report. Be guided by the format for listing or citing sources
given in this website: http://zonorus.marlboro.edu/~ewood/design1/fluquest/process/biblio.htm.
You must work together on this report. You must all agree on which unit of
measure to report on. And each member should have some participation in the
research work. The following division of research tasks among group members is
suggested:
Member #1 will look for information in books, magazines and other printed
sources
Member #2 will look for information in websites
Member #3 will get the photo or make the drawing and write the caption
If your group decides to interview someone for information, you must do the
interview as a group.
In writing the report, each one of your should take charge of one portion:
Member #1 will write about what the unit of measure looks like and/or what it
is made of
Member #2 - will write the part about when and where it is/was used
Member #3 will write about how it is/was used and/or the equivalent standard
or modern unit of measure
You have two weeks for researching and writing this report.
Your report will be graded using the following rubric:
| Criteria |
Very Good
(5 points) |
Good
(3 points) |
Needs Improvement
(1 point) |
| Content |
The report includes all of the details required
(when and where used, what it is made of, how it is used, and what is the
equivalent standard or unit of measure).
There is one photo or drawing.
A list of sources used is included. |
Most of the required details are included.
It is only the photo/drawing that is missing, or only the list of sources is
missing. |
Few of the required details are included.
There is no photo or drawing.
A list of sources is not included. |
| Organization |
Information is presented in a logical way.
There is a clear beginning, middle, and end to the report. |
Most of the information is presented in a
logical way. |
The information is not arranged logically. Or
the information is arranged in a way that confuses the reader. |
| Mechanics |
The report is written in complete and
grammatical sentences.
There is correct use of punctuation.
Words are spelled correctly. |
Most of the report is written in complete and
grammatical sentences.
Most of the punctuation used is correct.
There are few errors in spelling. |
There are many grammatical errors.
There are many errors in punctuation and spelling. |
|