All Hands on Deck

Note: This lesson relates to "Ahead of Her Class"

	Historical Background on USS Constitution USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world. Carrying a crew of 450 men and over 50 guns, she was launched in 1797 to protect America's freedom on the seas. She was undefeated against the British in the War of 1812 and earned the nickname "Old Ironsides" when a sailor saw a cannon ball bounce off her thick, wooden hull during battle. When she was declared unseaworthy in 1828, she was saved by the American people who rallied for her preservation. After a long career, including capturing a slave ship, circumventing the globe, and serving as a military prison, she is now berthed in Boston and is open to the public. For more information, go to www.allhandsondeck.org, www.ussconstitutionmuseum.org, and www.ussconstitution.navy.mil.

Objectives
After completing this lesson, students will be able to:

	1.	Estimate and measure attributes of two of the decks of the USS Constitution using standard and nonstandard tools.
	2.	Compare both decks as to their length, width, perimeter and approximate area.

Massachusetts Math Curriculum Frameworks
Grade 2 Learning Standards: Measurement; Number Sense and Operations; Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability
Students engage in problem solving, communicating, reasoning, connecting, and representing as they:

	•	2.M.3 Compare the length, weight, area and volume of two or more objects by using direct comparison.
	•	2.M.4 Measure and compare common objects using metric and English units of length measurement (e.g., centimeter, inch).
	•	2.M.7 Demonstrate an understanding of various meanings of addition and subtraction (e.g., addition as combination (plus, combined with, more); subtraction as comparison (how much less, how much more); equalizing (how many more are needed to make these equal); separation (how much remaining)).
	•	2.D.3 Formulate inferences (draw conclusions) and make educated guesses (conjectures) about a situation based on information gained from data.

Materials

	•	Worksheet (pdf): Estimating and Comparing Length, Width & Perimeter: USS Constitution's Berth Deck
	•	Worksheet (pdf): Estimating and Comparing Length, Width & Perimeter: USS Constitution's Orlop Deck
	•	Math manipulative: 1 inch paper clips and a standard ruler

Procedure

Given 2 diagrams, the student will estimate the perimeter, length, width and approximate area of each of the decks using the nonstandard and standard measuring tools provided. The student will complete the table and compare the results of the actual measurements on the table in order to explain using appropriate language as to which deck is longer or shorter, wider, etc.

Rubric for Evaluation and Analysis
Objective: The student will display knowledge of the necessary mathematical reasoning skills to correctly solve a math problem of numbers by estimating the number of objects in a group and verifying results related to the study of the USS Constitution.

	3	The student displays knowledge of the necessary mathematical reasoning skills by solving the problem with the correct (appropriate) answer.
	2	The student displays knowledge of the necessary mathematical reasoning skills but solves the problem with an incorrect (inappropriate) answer.
	1	The student attempts to solve the problem but is unable to display the knowledge of the necessary mathematical reasoning skills.
	0	The student does not attempt to solve the problem.

to top