Lesson COG 16
Task: Measure length.
Prerequisites: ADT 1, COG 35
Concept: In this exercise, the increment used for measurement is inches. This could obviously be changed, based on student need and appropriateness. The most desirable approach is to put meaning to the measurement skill. Although usually necessary for this task, speech skills have been precluded as prerequisites to make the task more us-able for students. If speech skills are already present, a verbal response should be used rather than the one given in this lesson.
Behavioral Objective: When asked to "show me the paper strip that is (a randomly selected number from 1 to 12) inches long" and given at least three samples (one of which is the correct length), the student will use a ruler to measure the paper strips and hand the teacher the correct length strip to a 90% accuracy level for 20 trials.
Materials: A foot-long ruler (preferably one with large numbers) and 12 strips of paper that have been cut to inch-long increment lengths of 1 through 12 inches.
Task Analysis:
1. Review with student the ability to recognize numbers (see prerequisite COG 35), using the ruler for number identification.
2. Select paper strips that are 1 inch and 12 inches long. Guide the student through the process of handing you the 1-inch strip and then the 12-inch strip after having first placed the paper strip against the ruler. Reduce guidance until only verbal requests are needed.
3. Continue the concept of Step 2, adding another randomly selected strip so that three choices (1 inch, a random choice, and 12 inches) are presented.
4. Modify Step 3 to presenting any 3 randomly selected paper strips and requesting the student to select a specific paper strip until all 12 strips have been presented and measured.
5. Although Step 3 can meet the objective, attempt to measure different items in the student's environment to put a practical aspect to the exercise.