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Measuring with Informal Units

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Measuring with Informal Units

Measuring with Informal Units

Child measuring objects with blocks and hand spans

📏 Part 1: Understanding Measurement

1. What does it mean to measure something?
2. Circle the things you could use to measure how long something is:

Your hand span

Building blocks

Your favourite colour

Paper clips

Your pet's name

🧱 Part 2: Measuring with Blocks

3. Measure these objects using blocks. Write how many blocks long each object is:

My pencil is _______ blocks long.

My book is _______ blocks long.

My ruler is _______ blocks long.

My shoe is _______ blocks long.

4. Which object was the longest? Circle your answer:

Pencil

Book

Ruler

Shoe

✋ Part 3: Measuring with Hand Spans

5. Now measure the same objects using your hand spans. Write how many hand spans long each object is:

My pencil is _______ hand spans long.

My book is _______ hand spans long.

My ruler is _______ hand spans long.

My shoe is _______ hand spans long.

6. Did you get the same numbers when you used hand spans instead of blocks?

Yes, exactly the same

No, the numbers were different

7. Why do you think the numbers were different? Explain your thinking:

🤔 Part 4: Comparing Measurements

8. Fill in the blanks using the words: longer, shorter, same

My book is _____________ than my pencil.

My pencil is _____________ than my book.

If two objects are both 5 blocks long, they are the _____________ length.

9. Why is it important to use the same unit when measuring? (For example, all blocks OR all hand spans)

🏛️ Part 5: First Nations Australian Measurement

10. First Nations Australians have used body parts to measure things for thousands of years. Match the body part with what it might be used to measure:
1. Hand span
2. Foot length
3. Arm length
A. Length of a fishing spear
B. Width of a small basket
C. Size of a footprint in sand
11. Draw a picture showing yourself measuring something using your hand span:

🎯 Part 6: Measurement Challenge

12. Estimate first, then measure! How long do you think your table is?

My estimate: I think my table is about _______ hand spans long.

My actual measurement: My table is _______ hand spans long.

My estimate: I think my table is about _______ blocks long.

My actual measurement: My table is _______ blocks long.

13. Was your estimate close to your actual measurement?

Very close

A bit different

Very different

14. What is one important thing you learned about measuring today?

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