Measurement

Measurement

In our Measurement unit we will be learning about customary units (American) and metric units.

 Standard customary units of measure for length include inches (in), feet (ft), yards (yd), and miles (mi).     

12 inches = 1 foot

3 feet = 1 yard

1 yard = 36 inches

1 mile = 5,280 feet

 How to read a ruler in standard customary units.

      The center mark between the numbers is 1/2. 

       The next smallest units on a ruler are fourths.

       The next smallest units are eighths.

       The next smallest units are sixteenths.

 The smaller the unit of measurement used, the more accurate the measurement.     

 The smaller the unit of measure used to measure an item, the more units it takes to cover the distance.  For example:  If you measured the ribbon below in inches it would be 36 inches long.  If you measured in feet it would be 3 feet long.  If you measured in yards it would be 1 yard long.  Since the inch is the smallest unit of measure it takes more inches than feet or yards.

 Measuring to the nearest unit is like rounding.  We measure up to the next bigger unit if the length is halfway or more and down to the smaller unit if the length is less than halfway to the next unit.  For example:  In picture A below the blue rectangle is closer to 4 inches and in picture B the object is closer to 2 inches.

A           B    

 Metric units of length include millimeters (mm), centimeters (cm), and meters (m).

100 centimeters = 1 meter

10 millimeters = 1 centimeters

1,000 millimeters = 1 meter

 How to read a metric ruler:  The larger lines with numbers are centimeters and the smallest lines are millimeters.

 We measure metric units of length to the nearest cm by rounding.  We round up to the next higher cm if the length is 0.5 cm (5mm) or more past the last whole cm.  We round down to the smaller cm if the length is less than 0.5 cm (5mm) past that cm.  For example:  1.5 cm round up to 2 cm, and 1.4 cm round down to 1 cm.

 Standard customary units of measurement for weight are the ounce (oz) and pound (lb or #).  16 oz = 1 lb

  We measure to the nearest pound the same way we round.  If it is halfway or more (8 oz or more), go up to the next pound.  If it is less than halfway (7 oz or less), go down to the smaller pound.

 Metric units of measurement for mass are gram (g) and kilogram (kg).  1,000 g = 1 kg

 Capacity is the amount an object can hold.

 Standard customary units of capacity include teaspoon (tsp), tablespoon (tbs), cup (c), pint (p), quart (qt), and gallon (g).

2 cups = 1 pint

2 pints = 1 quarts

4 quarts = 1 gallon

 We can measure with a thermometer if we want to know exactly how hot or cold something is.  The units of measure for temperature are degrees and the more degrees there are the hotter the temperature is.

 Fahrenheit measures of temperature are used in this country, while Celsius measures of temperature are used by scientists in this country as well as people internationally.

 Important temperatures to know for Fahrenheit and Celsius are below:

Fahrenheit	Celsius
Freezing Point = 32 degrees F	Freezing Point = 0 degrees C
Comfortable Room Temperature = 70 degrees F	Comfortable Room Temperature = 21 degrees C
Normal Body Temperature = 98.6 degrees F	Normal Body Temperature = 37 degrees C
Boiling Point = 212 degrees F	Boiling Point = 100 degrees C

  To practice converting units. 

  To see a video on estimating length.

  To practice measuring to an inch. 

  To practice measuring to centimeters.

  To practice measuring with a ruler.     

  To practice converting & identify lengths.

  To practice metric measurements.   

  To practice measurement & estimation.

  To see video on weight and capacity.    

   To practice weighing with scales.

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