Measuring with Inches: Let's Be Rulers!

Math Grades 1st Grade 2:44 Video
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Lesson Description

Learn how to measure objects using inches! This lesson will teach you how to use a ruler to find out how long things are.

Video Resource

Measure Length In Inches For Kids | Math for 1st Grade | Kids Academy

Kids Academy

Duration: 2:44
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Inch as a unit of measurement
  • Using a ruler to measure length
  • Lining up objects correctly on a ruler

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to identify inches on a ruler.
  • Students will be able to measure objects to the nearest inch using a ruler.
  • Students will understand the importance of starting at the beginning of the ruler when measuring.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students what they already know about measuring. Show them a ruler and ask if they know what it's used for. Introduce the concept of 'inches' as a way to measure how long things are.
  • Video Viewing (5 mins)
    Play the Kids Academy video 'Measure Length In Inches For Kids'. Instruct students to pay close attention to how the teacher lines up the objects with the ruler and how she reads the measurements.
  • Guided Practice (10 mins)
    After the video, review the key points. Emphasize the importance of lining up the edge of the object with the '0' mark on the ruler. Work through a few examples together as a class, measuring different objects in the classroom (e.g., pencil, eraser, book).
  • Independent Practice (10 mins)
    Give each student a ruler and a worksheet with pictures of objects to measure. Have them measure the objects to the nearest inch and write down the measurements.
  • Wrap-up (5 mins)
    Review the answers to the worksheet. Ask students to share what they learned and any challenges they encountered. Reinforce the importance of accurate measurement.

Interactive Exercises

  • Classroom Scavenger Hunt
    Divide students into small groups. Give each group a list of items to find and measure in the classroom (e.g., a crayon, a notebook, a toy). Have them record their measurements and then compare their findings with the other groups.

Discussion Questions

  • What is an inch?
  • Why is it important to line up the object at the beginning of the ruler?
  • Can you think of things we might measure in our daily lives?

Skills Developed

  • Measurement skills
  • Number recognition
  • Attention to detail

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

What do we use to measure how long something is?

Correct Answer: A ruler

Question 2:

When you measure, where do you start lining up the object on the ruler?

Correct Answer: At the number 0

Question 3:

If a pencil goes from the beginning of the ruler to the number 4, how long is it?

Correct Answer: 4 inches

Question 4:

What is an inch?

Correct Answer: A unit to measure length

Question 5:

Which of these would you use a ruler to measure?

Correct Answer: How long a table is

Question 6:

A crayon is 6 inches long. A pencil is 8 inches long. Which is longer?

Correct Answer: The pencil

Question 7:

What number do you look at on the ruler to see how long something is?

Correct Answer: The number where the object ends

Question 8:

If you don't line the object up at 0, will you get the right measurement?

Correct Answer: No

Question 9:

What is this called:

Correct Answer: Ruler

Question 10:

What is a quick way to find the length of an item?

Correct Answer: Measure

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

We use a _______ to measure how long things are.

Correct Answer: ruler

Question 2:

An ______ is a way to measure length.

Correct Answer: inch

Question 3:

When measuring, line up the object at the number ______.

Correct Answer: 0

Question 4:

If a toy is 2 inches long, that means it takes 2 _________ to measure it.

Correct Answer: inches

Question 5:

We can measure a ________ to see how long it is

Correct Answer: pencil

Question 6:

The length is the whole ________ from one end to another

Correct Answer: distance

Question 7:

If you don't have a ruler you can make an _________.

Correct Answer: estimate

Question 8:

An inch is a ________ of length

Correct Answer: unit

Question 9:

Lining up at 0 is very __________ to get the correct size.

Correct Answer: important

Question 10:

A ruler helps you see the _________ of items.

Correct Answer: size

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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