[LisaKS Posts: 51 Status: Offline WWW]

Are your K-4th graders familiar with silver dollars? I'm trying to come up with an analogy for the size of a young horseshoe crab (about 1.5 inches in diameter, plus a tail). A scientist suggested I use a silver dollar as a comparison, but I'm not sure if that's a good choice, since it seems like many children might not have seen them. This is for a book, so I can't just hold one up to show them.

Other possibilities--lollipop? (possibly too much variation in size, but very familiar)? Car key? Plastic soup spoon? Any enthusiasm or other suggestions welcome!

Lisa

[Marissa Doyle Posts: 3,731 Status: Offline Charles Bewitched: out now! WWW]

The size of the palm of their hand? For that age group, it's probably close.

[Kell Posts: 1,408 Status: Offline On the other hand WWW]

The cap of a gallon milk jug, 64-ounce juice container, or 16-ounce Snapple bottle are all about that size.

[ruecole Posts: 475 Status: Offline MG Writer WWW]

How about a fruit or nut? Maybe a walnut? Or a cherry?

(Here in Canada, we'd probably compare it to a Toonie, but that's going to confuse an American audience even more than a silver dollar!  )

Hope that helps!

Rue

[LTMadison Posts: 119 Status: Offline Cover art avatar by 2020 WWW]

How about an Oreo cookie --right shape, dark in color, and 1.75" in diameter?

[LisaKS Posts: 51 Status: Offline WWW]

These are great! And such a quick response, too. I know it has been said a zillion times before on these boards, but...you guys are awesome! Thank you so much!