How to Measure a Puddle

Thank you for joining our Puddle Project. It's fun to collect the different ways to measure a puddle. Click on the teacher for directions to the project.

Click on the names of classes to see their ideas. Enjoy!

Narragansett Elementary School - Grade 3

Narragansett Elementary School - Grade 3
Mrs. Blumenbaum's Class - Home of the Puddle Project

Our team decided that we would measure how much total water is in a puddle. That is called volume. We would use a measuring cup. We would scoop up the water and read the number on the side of the cup that matched where the water was in the cup. If the puddle took more than one measuring cup, we would take another cup, fill it up and read the numbers on the side. Then we would add the total of both measuring cups together using a calculator. We would keep going until the puddle was empty. Then we would know how much water was in the puddle.

Our team chose to meaure how deep a puddle is. Items needed to measure a puddle: yardstick or ruler, puddle and you. Try the ruler first. If the water is too high, use a yardstick. First, put the ruler/yardstick in the puddle. Then see what number on the ruler does the water in the puddle go up to. Write that number down. That is how deep the puddle is.

When we got together we thought that we would measure the outside of the puddle (around)..

           1. First get a measuring tape and some chalk.
           2. Use the chalk and draw a circle around the puddle.
           3.Then get the measuring tape and put the measuring tape on the
                 edge of the chalk circle all the way around.
           4. Look at where the tape measure meets.
           5. Read the bigger number.
           6. Then you know how many inches around the puddle is.

That's how we measured the puddle.

We measured a puddle by using a 30' measuring tape. We decided to measure the length of the puddle or from one end to the other. First, stretch the measure tape out across the puddle. Each person holds the measuring tape up out of the water. The person farthest away holds the end marked with a metal piece but don't read the number near the metal piece because it won't tell you the answer since it is the first number on the tape. The person closest to the dispenser end of the measuring tape reads the number that matches the end of the puddle.

Directions for the Measure a Puddle Project

1.Register with the Home Class:
Email to register and include your name, school name and grade
2. Each class decides how they will measure a puddle.
3. Draw a complete diagram which shows how to measure the puddle.
4. Write the steps to explain how to measure the puddle.
5. Email the explanation to us and send the diagram as an attachment. Email address: