Lesson 6.2 · Measurement and Time
Measuring with units
How long is your pencil? You can find out with paper clips, cubes or blocks. Line them up and count!
Laying units end to end
A unit is the small thing you use to measure. All the units must be the same size.
To measure, start at one end. Lay units in a row, touching each other. Stop at the other end. Then count the units.
How to measure
- Start at the very end of the object.
- Lay units in a row with no gaps and no overlaps.
- Count the units. That number is the length.
Worked example: Measure the pencil
✏️ The pencil is as long as this row of cubes:
🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦
Count the cubes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. The pencil is 6 cubes long.
Worked example: Which is longer?
The spoon is 4 paper clips long. The fork is 5 paper clips long.
5 is more than 4, so the fork is longer. It is 1 paper clip longer.
Gaps and overlaps
If you leave space between units, you count too few. If units pile on top of each other, you count too many.
Worked example: Spot the mistake
Sam measured a book with blocks. He left big gaps between them and got 3 blocks. Is 3 right?
No. The gaps are empty spaces that he didn't count. With no gaps, the book is more than 3 blocks long.
Common mistake
Always start right at the end of the object, and keep the units touching. No gaps, no overlaps!
Practice
How many cubes long is the crayon?
🖍️ = 🟩🟩🟩🟩
Type a number.
How many blocks long is the train?
🚂 = 🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧
Type a number.
How many units long is this line? Each dot marks the end of one unit.
Type a number.
Which picture shows the right way to measure?
A leaf is 5 paper clips long. A stick is 8 paper clips long. How many paper clips longer is the stick?
Type a number.
Ana measured a shoe and got 6 cubes. She left gaps between the cubes. What is true?
A table is 10 blocks long. A bench is 1 block longer than the table. How many blocks long is the bench?
Type a number.