Let's Measure! How Long Is It?

Math Grades 1st Grade 4:39 Video
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Lesson Description

Learn how to measure objects correctly using rulers and units like centimeters and meters. We'll explore how to avoid gaps and overlaps to get the right measurement!

Video Resource

Measuring lengths 2 | Measurement and data | Early Math | Khan Academy

Khan Academy

Duration: 4:39
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Measuring length
  • Units of measurement (centimeters, meters)
  • Accurate measurement techniques (avoiding gaps and overlaps)

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to measure the length of objects using appropriate units.
  • Students will be able to identify and correct common measurement errors, such as gaps and overlaps.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students what they know about measuring things. Show them different rulers (centimeter ruler, meter stick) and explain what each unit measures. Discuss why measuring is important in everyday life (e.g., building, cooking, knowing how tall they are).
  • Video Viewing (7 mins)
    Watch the Khan Academy video 'Measuring lengths 2 | Measurement and data | Early Math | Khan Academy' as a class. Pause at key points to discuss the concepts presented, especially the examples of correct and incorrect measurement techniques.
  • Guided Practice (10 mins)
    Provide students with various objects (pencils, books, erasers) and centimeter rulers. Guide them through the process of measuring each object, emphasizing the importance of starting at the edge, aligning the ruler correctly, and avoiding gaps or overlaps. Do a few examples together, and then have students work independently or in pairs.
  • Independent Practice (8 mins)
    Distribute a worksheet with pictures of objects and rulers. Some rulers should be positioned correctly, and some should have gaps or overlaps. Ask students to identify the correct measurements and explain why the incorrect measurements are wrong.
  • Wrap-up and Assessment (5 mins)
    Review the key concepts of the lesson. Ask students to share what they learned about measuring. Administer the multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank quizzes to assess their understanding.

Interactive Exercises

  • Measurement Scavenger Hunt
    Hide objects around the classroom and give each student a list of items to find and measure. They must record the name of each object and its length in centimeters or meters.

Discussion Questions

  • Why is it important to start measuring at the very edge of an object?
  • What happens if you leave a gap when you are measuring something?

Skills Developed

  • Measuring skills
  • Problem-solving
  • Attention to detail

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

Which of these shows the right way to measure?

Correct Answer: The ruler starts at the edge.

Question 2:

What do we use to measure how long something is?

Correct Answer: A ruler

Question 3:

What is a centimeter?

Correct Answer: A small unit of measure

Question 4:

If a pencil is 5 centimeters long and another is 3 centimeters long, which pencil is longer?

Correct Answer: The 5 cm pencil

Question 5:

What should you NOT do when measuring?

Correct Answer: Leave a gap.

Question 6:

What unit do we use to measure big things, like the floor?

Correct Answer: Meters

Question 7:

What does 'length' mean?

Correct Answer: How long something is

Question 8:

If your toy car is 6 centimeters long, and your friend's is 4 centimeters long, how much longer is your car?

Correct Answer: 2 centimeters

Question 9:

Why is it bad to overlap the ruler when you are measuring?

Correct Answer: It will give you the wrong answer.

Question 10:

When you measure, where should you put the end of the ruler?

Correct Answer: At the start of the thing you are measuring

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

We use a _______ to measure how long something is.

Correct Answer: ruler

Question 2:

Centimeters and _______ are units for measuring length.

Correct Answer: meters

Question 3:

When measuring, don't leave any _______ between the ruler and the object.

Correct Answer: gaps

Question 4:

If a book is 10 centimeters long, its _______ is 10 centimeters.

Correct Answer: length

Question 5:

_______ means how long something is from one end to the other.

Correct Answer: Length

Question 6:

If you want to measure your classroom you should use _______.

Correct Answer: meters

Question 7:

When you put the ruler too far to one side, it will not give you the right _______.

Correct Answer: measurement

Question 8:

Putting the ruler right next to the edge without a _______ is the right way to measure.

Correct Answer: gap

Question 9:

You should not _______ the rulers when you measure.

Correct Answer: overlap

Question 10:

If someone asks you to measure the _______ of your desk, you are measuring the longest side.

Correct Answer: length

Educational Standards

CCSS.Math.Content.1.MD.A.2:Express the length of an object as a whole number of length units, by laying multiple copies of a shorter object (the length unit) end to end; understand that the length measurement of an object is the number of same-size length units that span it with no gaps or overlaps. Limit to contexts where the object being measured is spanned by a whole number of length units with no gaps or overlaps. CCSS.Math.Content.1.NBT.A.1:Count to 120, starting at any number less than 120. In this range, read and write numerals and represent a number of objects with a written numeral.

Teaching Materials

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