Measuring Up: Length!

dfredericks

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Measuring Up: Length!

Students will be able to identify and use appropriate customary and metric units (inches, feet, centimeters) to measure the length of real-world objects, and understand that measurement involves partitioning a length unit by unit.

Understanding how to accurately measure helps us in countless daily tasks, from building furniture to baking a cake, and gives us a deeper appreciation for the world's structure.

Audience

4th Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Hands-on exploration, direct instruction, and guided practice using rulers and common objects.

Materials

Rulers (customary and metric) (1 per student or pair), Variety of small classroom objects (pencils, erasers, books, paperclips), Measuring Up: Length! Slide Deck, Measuring Up: Length! Script, Measure & Match Activity Sheet, and Measure & Match Answer Key

Prep

Prepare Materials & Review

10 minutes

Gather enough rulers (that have both customary and metric units) for each student or pair.
* Collect a variety of small, common classroom objects for students to measure (e.g., pencils, erasers, glue sticks, small books, paperclips).
* Review the Measuring Up: Length! Slide Deck and Measuring Up: Length! Script to familiarize yourself with the content and pacing.
* Print copies of the Measure & Match Activity Sheet, one per student.

Step 1

Warm-Up: What's Length?

5 minutes

Engage students with a quick discussion about 'length' and how they might measure things in their daily lives. Use the Measuring Up: Length! Script to guide.
* Show the 'What is Length?' slide from the Measuring Up: Length! Slide Deck.

Step 2

Introducing Units & Tools

10 minutes

Introduce customary units (inches, feet) and metric units (centimeters). Explain when each might be used. Use the Measuring Up: Length! Script for clear explanations.
* Distribute rulers and demonstrate how to correctly align an object and read the measurement. Highlight the 'Using a Ruler' slide from the Measuring Up: Length! Slide Deck.
* Have students practice measuring a few simple, pre-determined objects as a class (e.g., their pencil, a desk width).

Step 3

Hands-On Measurement Activity

10 minutes

Distribute the Measure & Match Activity Sheet and a small collection of objects to each student or pair.
* Instruct students to measure the objects listed on the worksheet using both customary and metric units as indicated. Emphasize careful alignment and reading.
* Circulate to provide support and answer questions. Remind them of the 'Measure It Up!' slide from the Measuring Up: Length! Slide Deck.

Step 4

Wrap-Up & Share

5 minutes

Bring the class back together. Ask a few students to share one of their measurements and how they found it.
* Address any common misconceptions or difficulties observed during the activity. Refer to the 'Quick Check' and 'Reflect' slides in the Measuring Up: Length! Slide Deck.
* Collect activity sheets for review or self-correction using the Measure & Match Answer Key.

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Slide Deck

What is Length?

How do we measure things?

Think about a ruler.
Think about a measuring tape.
Why do we use these tools?

Greet students and start with an open discussion about how we measure things. Ask questions like, "How do you know how tall you are?" or "How do we know if a desk will fit in a space?" Emphasize that 'length' is about how long something is.

Customary Units: Inches & Feet

When do we use these?

Inch (in.): For small objects (pencils, paperclips).
Foot (ft.): For slightly larger objects (desks, height of a person).
There are 12 inches in 1 foot!

Introduce customary units first. Show examples of objects commonly measured in inches and feet. Emphasize the relationship (12 inches = 1 foot). Have students look at the inch side of their rulers. Ask them to point out the inches.

Metric Units: Centimeters

When do we use these?

Centimeter (cm): For small to medium objects (your finger, a crayon, a book).
It’s a unit used all around the world!

Now introduce metric units. Show examples of objects commonly measured in centimeters. Explain that centimeters are often used in science and in many other countries. Have students look at the centimeter side of their rulers. Ask them to point out the centimeters.

Using a Ruler: The Right Way!

Steps to Success:

Start at Zero: Line up one end of your object with the "0" mark.
Keep it Straight: Make sure your ruler is straight along the object.
Read the Mark: Look at where the other end of your object lines up on the ruler.

Crucial slide for demonstrating proper ruler usage. Physically model each step: start at zero, keep it straight, read carefully. Have students practice with their own rulers and a pencil.

Measure It Up!

Your Turn to Measure!

You will get a Measure & Match Activity Sheet and some objects.
Use your ruler to measure each object.
Remember to use the correct unit (inches or centimeters!).

Explain the activity. Remind students to use the correct unit (inches OR centimeters) as instructed for each object. Encourage careful, precise measurements. Circulate and assist.

Quick Check: What Did You Find?

Let's share some measurements!

What did you measure?
What unit did you use?
What was your measurement?

Ask students to share one measurement. Discuss if they found any objects tricky to measure and why. Reinforce the importance of starting at zero and keeping the ruler straight.

Reflect & Grow

What did you learn today about measuring length?

Which unit was easier for you to use, inches or centimeters?
What was the most important thing to remember when using a ruler?

Have students briefly reflect on what they learned or what they found interesting. This serves as a quick cool-down and a check for understanding.

Script

Measuring Up: Length! Script

Warm-Up: What's Length? (5 minutes)

"Good morning, future master measurers! Today, we're going to dive into something super useful that you do all the time, even if you don't always think about it: measuring length!

Think about it for a moment. When might you want to know how long something is? [Pause for student responses, affirm answers like 'when you want to know how tall you are', 'if a toy will fit in a box', 'how far away something is']

Exactly! Measuring length helps us understand the size of objects and spaces. If I wanted to hang a picture on the wall, I'd need to measure how wide the picture is, right? Or if I wanted to know if this book [hold up a book] would fit on that shelf [point to a shelf], I'd need to measure its length.

Take a look at our first slide, 'What is Length?' It asks, 'How do we measure things?' We often use tools like a ruler or a measuring tape. Why do we use these tools instead of just guessing? [Listen for 'accuracy', 'consistency', 'so everyone knows the same size'] Great points!"

Introducing Units & Tools (10 minutes)

"Now, when we measure, we use special words called 'units.' These units tell us how much length we're talking about. In the United States, we often use customary units.

Take out your rulers! Let's look at the side with the bigger numbers, usually going up to 12. These are inches! [Show the 'Customary Units: Inches & Feet' slide.] An inch is a pretty small unit, good for measuring things like your pencil, a paperclip, or the width of your thumb. [Demonstrate with your thumb.] When we have 12 inches together, it makes one foot! We use feet to measure slightly larger things, like the length of your desk or how tall you are.

Now, flip your ruler over! Do you see the numbers that go up higher, with smaller marks? These are centimeters! [Show the 'Metric Units: Centimeters' slide.] Centimeters are part of the metric system, which is used by scientists and in many, many countries around the world. A centimeter is great for measuring things like a crayon, a small book, or even your finger. [Demonstrate with your finger.]

So, whether we use inches or centimeters, the most important thing is how we use our ruler. Let's look at the 'Using a Ruler: The Right Way!' slide. [Show the 'Using a Ruler: The Right Way!' slide.]

Start at Zero: Always line up one end of your object exactly with the '0' mark on your ruler. Not the very edge of the ruler, but the actual '0' mark!
Keep it Straight: Make sure your ruler is perfectly straight along the object, not crooked.
Read the Mark: Look closely at where the other end of your object stops on the ruler. That's your measurement!

Let's try one together! Everyone hold up your pencil. Now, line up one end of your pencil with the '0' on the centimeter side of your ruler. Keep it straight. What measurement do you get? [Guide students, walk around to check technique, clarify any confusion.] Excellent!"

Hands-On Measurement Activity (10 minutes)

"Fantastic! Now it's your turn to be the master measurers! [Show the 'Measure It Up!' slide.] I'm going to give each of you, or your pairs, a Measure & Match Activity Sheet and a small collection of objects.

Your job is to measure each object listed on the sheet. Pay close attention to whether the sheet asks you to measure in inches or centimeters. Remember our rules: start at zero, keep it straight, and read carefully. Try your best to be super precise!

I'll be walking around to help if you get stuck. You have about 10 minutes for this activity. Ready, set, measure!"

Wrap-Up & Share (5 minutes)

"Alright, bring your attention back up here! Let's do a quick check-in. [Show the 'Quick Check: What Did You Find?' slide.] Who would like to share one of their measurements? What object did you measure, what unit did you use, and what was your measurement? [Call on a few students to share. Address any common difficulties you observed, like not starting at zero, or reading between marks.]

Great job everyone! You are all becoming experts at using your rulers. Today, we learned about different units of measurement, like inches and centimeters, and practiced using a ruler to find the length of objects. This skill is going to be super important as we continue our unit on geometry and measurement.

Finally, let's look at our 'Reflect & Grow' slide. [Show the 'Reflect & Grow' slide.] Think for a moment: What was one new thing you learned today about measuring length? Or, what was the most important thing to remember when using a ruler? [Allow a moment for silent reflection or quick verbal shares.]

Excellent work today, everyone! Please hand in your Measure & Match Activity Sheet as you finish up."

Worksheet

Measure & Match Activity Sheet

Name: ____________________________

Instructions: Use your ruler to measure the length of each object. Be careful to use the correct unit (inches or centimeters) as listed for each item. Start at the '0' mark and keep your ruler straight!

Part 1: Customary Units (Inches)

Measure the following objects in inches.

Your Pencil:

Measurement: ___________ inches
Your Eraser:

Measurement: ___________ inches
A Crayon:

Measurement: ___________ inches
Length of this paper (short side):

Measurement: ___________ inches

Part 2: Metric Units (Centimeters)

Measure the following objects in centimeters.

Your Pencil:

Measurement: ___________ cm
Your Eraser:

Measurement: ___________ cm
A Paperclip:

Measurement: ___________ cm
Length of this paper (long side):

Measurement: ___________ cm

Challenge Question:

If you measured your pencil in both inches and centimeters, which number was bigger? Why do you think that is?

Answer Key

Measure & Match Activity Sheet Answer Key

Note to Teacher: Measurements for physical objects may vary slightly depending on the exact items used in the classroom. The key here focuses on understanding the appropriate units and demonstrating correct ruler usage. Focus on student process and reasonable estimates within 0.25 inches or 0.5 cm.

Part 1: Customary Units (Inches)

Measure the following objects in inches.

Your Pencil:
- Thought Process: Students should align the pencil's end with the 0-inch mark and read the measurement where the other end falls. Standard pencils are typically around 7-8 inches long.
- Anticipated Answer: ~7 to 8 inches
Your Eraser:
- Thought Process: Align the eraser with the 0-inch mark. Eraser sizes vary greatly. A common pink eraser is about 2 inches long.
- Anticipated Answer: ~1.5 to 2.5 inches (depending on eraser size)
A Crayon:
- Thought Process: Align the crayon with the 0-inch mark. Standard crayons are typically around 3.5 inches long.
- Anticipated Answer: ~3 to 4 inches
Length of this paper (short side):
- Thought Process: Students should measure the 8.5-inch side of a standard 8.5x11 inch paper. They should align the paper edge with the 0-inch mark.
- Anticipated Answer: ~8.5 inches

Part 2: Metric Units (Centimeters)

Measure the following objects in centimeters.

Your Pencil:
- Thought Process: Students should align the pencil's end with the 0-cm mark and read the measurement. A 7-8 inch pencil is approximately 18-20 cm.
- Anticipated Answer: ~18 to 20 cm
Your Eraser:
- Thought Process: Align the eraser with the 0-cm mark. A 1.5-2.5 inch eraser is approximately 4-6 cm.
- Anticipated Answer: ~4 to 6 cm (depending on eraser size)
A Paperclip:
- Thought Process: Align the paperclip with the 0-cm mark. A standard paperclip is usually about 3 cm long.
- Anticipated Answer: ~3 cm
Length of this paper (long side):
- Thought Process: Students should measure the 11-inch side of a standard 8.5x11 inch paper, which is approximately 28 cm. They should align the paper edge with the 0-cm mark.
- Anticipated Answer: ~28 cm

Challenge Question Answer:

If you measured your pencil in both inches and centimeters, which number was bigger? Why do you think that is?

Thought Process: Students should compare their two measurements for the pencil. The measurement in centimeters should be a larger number than the measurement in inches for the same object. The explanation should relate to the size of the units.
Anticipated Answer: The number for centimeters was bigger. This is because centimeters are smaller units than inches, so it takes more of them to cover the same length.