Activity 1.

2 A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

GATEWAY

Activity 1.3

Measuring Matters

Distance Learning Support

Check with your teacher about:
Materials or resources you need for this activity
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Design and Modeling

GOALS

Search ✕ Introduce U.S. Customary and metric systems.

Use a ruler to measure accurately.
Design and Modeling
Read dimensions on a sketch.

Lesson 1: Introduction to Design

Use a dimensioned sketch to build a paper skimmer.

Activity 1.1 Foot Orthosis Instant

Design Challenge

Reflect
MATERIALS
Design Process
U.S. Customary and metric ruler
Deciding with a Decision Matrix Pencil
Design and Modeling Unit Problem Ball point pen
Activity 1.1 Design Process 1 file folder
Reflection Table Scissors
Activity 1.1 Decision Matrix Tacky Glue
Masking tape or transparent tape
Activity 1.2 A Picture is Worth a Paper clip
Thousand Words Skimmer launcher (per testing station)
Isometric Sketching Metric measuring tape (per testing station)

Multiview Sketching

Optional: Multiview Build

Challenges
RESOURCES R

Activity 1.3 Measuring Matters Activity 1.3 Additional Practice

Skimmer Sketches

All Systems Go

Using a Ruler

Measuring Practice

Dimensioning Skimmer Sketches

Skimmer Time!
Activity 1.3 Additional Practice
Activity 1.4 Skimmer Statistics
Box and Whiskers Plotting with
Google Sheets
Box and Whiskers Plotting with
Excel
Activity 1.5 Dialed In
Measuring 3D Objects
Have you ever baked a cake, built a structure with blocks, or sewn an article of
clothing? Did that process require you to do any measuring? For example, did you
have to use any measuring cups, scales, measuring tape, or rulers? Whether you
are making a tasty treat or building a functional structure, you need to make sure
you are accurate with your measurements. The same applies when hanging
new curtains, chalking the lines on a football field, or designing a new toy.
In this activity, you will compete with your friends to see who can create the best
skimmer, a small vehicle that will glide across (or “skim” over) the floor. The more
accurate your measurements are, the better the skimmer will glide and the farther
it will go. Figure 1 shows the sketch of the main body of the skimmer.

Dial Caliper

Measuring Practice

Dimensioning

Accuracy and Precision

Using a Dial Caliper

Dimensioning Guidelines

Project 1.6 Investigate the Inside

Lesson Reflection Figure 1. Skimmer Main Body Sketch

Investigate the Inside Design
Brief
What do you think the numbers on the sketch represent?
Optional Extension: Design
Modifications

Design Briefs

Lesson 2: Solid Modeling

Lesson 3: Design Challenge

Check your response
Distance Learning Support
These height, width, and depth measurements are called dimensions . You will
use them as your guide to draw, cut, and build your skimmer.

All Systems Go
Throughout history many systems of measurement have been devised and then
thrown out as more accurate and more logical systems have come along.

HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHT

Within Arm's Reach

Throughout time, people have used
different tools to communicate
measurements. The human body
provides some convenient
measuring tools—fingers, nails,
hands, feet, and arms. Ancient
Egyptians and other civilizations
used the arm length from the tip of
the middle finger to the elbow. They
called this unit a cubit. Historically, a
Figure 2. The Length of a Cubit
cubit is about 18 inches. However,
every person’s cubit is different. Over time people created standard units for
measurement, such as a foot and a meter. Source

While most of the world has adopted the metric system (SI) , the United States
still uses the standard system , also called the customary system.

1 Watch the All Systems Go video to learn more about the two measuring
systems.

a. Which system are you more comfortable with?

b. Do you prefer one system over the other based on what you are
measuring?

Helpful Tip: When trying to learn a new unit in the metric system, it is
helpful to think of an everyday item that represents that unit of
measure. For example, the mass of a paper clip is about 1 gram, the
volume of a large soda bottle is 2 Liters, and the width of a fingernail is
approximately 1 cm.

Using a Ruler
To measure the dimensions of an object, you can use a ruler with both measuring
systems. Some rulers, however, may have only one system of measurement.

Looking at either system of measurement on a ruler, you will notice lines that
divide the length of the ruler between each whole number. These lines are called
hatch marks and help you make more accurate measurements.

2 Explore the various hatch marks on the following image of a U.S.

Customary ruler.

i i i i
i i i i
i i
i
i i

Figure 3. Labeled U.S. Customary Ruler

Note: Notice the fraction equivalents for each labeled hatch

mark. The use of fractions is common when reading a U.S.
Customary measurement.

3 Explore the various hatch marks on the following image of a metric ruler.

i i i i i i i i

i i

Figure 4. Labeled Metric Ruler

Note: Notice the decimal values for each labeled hatch mark. The
use of decimal numbers is standard when reading a metric
measurement.

No matter which side of the ruler you use, you should make sure one edge of your
object lines up with the starting hatch mark. Some rulers label this hatch mark as
“0”, while other rulers leave it unmarked.

4 Look at the linking cube in Figures 5 and 6.

Figure 5. Lining Up a Cube for Inches Figure 6. Lining Up a Cube for Centimeters

Note: Notice how the left edge of the cube is aligned with the
starting hatch mark on the U.S. Customary and metric sides of the
ruler in the two images. This gives you the correct starting point to
make an accurate measurement with a ruler.

Measuring Practice
Now let’s put your measuring skills into action. Remember to use fractions when
measuring in the U.S. Customary System (inches) on a ruler and decimals when
using the metric system (centimeters).

PLTW GATEWAY NOTEBOOK

Record all work for this section in your notebook.

U.S. Customary System

5 Using a U.S. Customary System ruler, draw a triangle in your PLTW

Gateway Notebook with two sides measuring 1-3/16 inches (one and 3/16
of an inch) long and forming an angle of your choice.

6 Measure the third side of your triangle. How long is the third side of your
triangle?

Note: The size of the third side will vary from that of your classmates
based on the angle that you create between the first two sides.

7 On the outside of the triangle, label the sides with all three measurements.

8 Trade your triangle with a classmate to verify each other’s measurements.

Note: Make sure you measure all three sides of your classmate's
triangle.

Metric

9 Using a metric ruler, draw a second triangle in your notebook, with one
side measuring 4 cm, a second side measuring 7.6 cm, and an angle of
your choice.

10 Measure the third side of the triangle using the metric ruler.

11 Label the three sides of the triangle with your metric measurements.

12 Trade your triangle with a classmate to verify the measurements of all

three sides of the triangle.

Want More Practice Measuring? Complete the Activity 1.3 Additional

Practice exercise, if assigned by your teacher.

Dimensioning
In the last activity, you learned about the importance of sketching to communicate
ideas. You also might have noticed how difficult it can be for others to understand
sketches without dimensions or measurements to tell how tall, wide, or deep an
object should be. Adding dimensions to your sketches, or dimensioning ,
clearly communicates the measurements and features of the object.

13 Take a close look at the dimensioned skimmer sketches shown in Figure 7.

Figure 7. Skimmer Dimensions

Check Your Understanding

Analyze the dimensioned skimmer sketches shown in Figure 6 and

answer the following questions.

How wide is the

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What unit of mea- unfolded main
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sure do these sehcni 11 body?se(the
hcnivertical
4
snoitcarf fo esu ehT horizontal dimen-
sketches use? dimension in the
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figure)

-eb ecnatsid ehT -eb ecnatsid ehT

How wide will the In the air scoop In the air scoop,
-roc pot eht neewt mottob eht neewt
main body be after sketch, what do the what do the 3/8 di-
sehcni 3 ria eht fo sren ria eht fo srenroc
folding along the 1/8 dimensions mensions repre-
-tod eht dna poocs -tod eht dna poocs
dotted lines? represent? sent?
.senil det .senil det

Skimmer Time!
In this section, you will build and test your skimmer. Remember to be as accurate
with your measurements as possible, and pay close attention to the instructions.
Quality workmanship is the key to success!

Figure 8. Multiview Sketch of Skimmer

Part 1: Prepare Materials

14 Obtain the following materials:
U.S. Customary ruler
Pencil
Ball point pen
1 file folder
Scissors
Tacky glue
Masking tape or transparent tape
Paper clip

15 Cut the file folder in half.

Note: You can fit all the skimmer parts on one half of the file folder,
but keep the other half in case you need to redo a part.

Part 2: Draw the Parts

Important
1. Make sure to sharpen your pencil for a more accurate drawing.
2. Pay attention to:
the dimensions
the unit of measure
which lines are solid and which are dotted

Note: The video demonstrations showing each step of the skimmer build are
short and fast-paced. Pause and rewind the videos as you need to help you
work through each step.

16 Using the skimmer sketches provided, perform the following steps to draw
the four parts of the skimmer.
Step Video Demonstration

1. Draw the
main body.

2. Draw the
two fins.

3. Draw the
air scoop.

STOP: Do NOT proceed until you have checked your drawings with
your teacher to make sure you are on the right track!

Part 3: Cut and Fold

17 Perform the following steps to cut and fold the skimmer parts.

Important: Do not cut along the dotted lines!

Step Video Demonstration

1. Cut out
the four
parts.

2. Fold the
main body.

3. Fold the
air scoop.

Part 4: Assemble the Skimmer

18 Perform the following steps to assemble the skimmer.
Step Video Demonstration

1. Attach
the fins.

2. Attach
the air
scoop.

3. Attach
the paper
clip.

Distance Learning Support

To continue this activity, jump to DL: Part 5: Test Your Skimmer! (Activity
1.3).

Part 5: Test Your Skimmer!

19 Use the skimmer launcher to test your skimmer.

20 Measure the distance from the starting line to the location where it
stopped (all the way to the farthest end of the skimmer).

PLTW GATEWAY NOTEBOOK