Lesson 5: Measuring Length

Getting Started

Questions to Explore

• How and when do we use measurement?
• What can be measured?
• How and when do we use different units of measurement?
• What is standard versus nonstandard measurement?
• How do we use measurement to help us make decisions?

Facts and Definitions

• There are twelve inches in a foot.
• We can use a ruler, tape measure, or yard stick to measure a foot.
• Nonstandard measurement uses objects that are not a standard size to measure.
• Standard measurement involves using tools with standard measurements.

Summary of Skills

• Listen critically to stories read aloud (LA)
• Identify the problem in a story (LA)
• Make predictions about a text (LA)
• Identify causes and effects in a text (LA)
• Gather information using equipment and tools (S)
• Communicate explanations about investigations (S)
• Measure attributes of objects (M)
• Use standard and nonstandard measurements (M)
• Estimate length, capacity, and weight (M)
• Construct a bar graph using data (M)

Materials

• How Big is a Foot by Rolf Myller
• Ruler
• Yardstick
• Sunflower seeds
• Bean seeds
• Bar of soap
• A book
• 8" x 10" picture frame
• Chalk
• Construction Paper

Introduction