Welding Theory 1: Using a Tape Measure

This lesson, provided by the Contextualize to Learn project at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has students work in pairs to work through calculations about welding wire. Calculations include unit conversions (inch per amp convert to inch per minute), determining rates of inches per day, pounds per day, and cost per day of wire used by an average welder. Math in this lesson includes addition and subtraction with different denominators, converting to and from mixed decimals to fractions, adding measurements given in feet and inches, use basic geometry formulas to solve problems.

A 5-page instructor guide and a 1-page student handout is included. The expected total time for this lesson is 95 minutes (including a 15 minute break). This lesson requires the following manipulatives: a 0.45 Welding Wire 44# spool, a tape measure, and a calculator.