INSTRUCTIONAL ROLES:

-The classroom teacher begins the unit with measurement activities in the classroom. The library media specialist introduces the students to the characters by reading the books and completing character maps. This can be completed over a three-week period. During collaborative sessions in the library media center, the classroom teacher assists the students as they complete the measurement activity and the library media specialist records the data on an overhead transparency.

ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES FOR COMPLETION:
-After completing the measurement unit and booktalks with character maps, students visit the library media center. The students identify the character dolls one at a time. As each one is identified, students are asked to recall one detail about each character that was included in their character maps. The dolls are put on display until the second visit to the library media center.

-During the second visit students are divided into groups of two or three, depending on the number of character dolls available for the activity. One doll is needed for each group.

-Each group chooses or is assigned a character doll to measure. A nonstandard measuring tool, such as a cotton swab, is used by each group to measure the selected character doll. After each group completes the measuring, the data is recorded on an overhead chart.

-During the third visit to the library media center, a standard measuring tool, such as an inchworm ruler, is used by each group to measure their character doll. After each group completes the measuring, the data is recorded on the overhead chart. After the measurements are recorded, a graph is completed to compare the size of the characters. Classroom discussion includes the topics of "largest" and "smallest." The chart and graph are labeled to help familiarize the students with the terms. The graph may be displayed with the character dolls in the library media center.