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Lesson · Grade 1 · Mathematics

Why Measuring Units Should All Be the Same Size

  • Grade 1
  • Mathematics
  • 1 min 3 s
  • British Columbia
  • BC1-MA-14

A child and a grown-up measure the same table with hand spans and get two different answers, 6 small spans and 4 big spans, because their hands are different sizes. Then they both measure with cubes that are all the same size, both count 12, and the video ends on the idea that same size units help everyone get the same answer.

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In one sentence

The question this lesson answers

How long is this table? Let's measure it with our hands.

A hand span is from thumb to little finger.

Transcript

What the lesson says

How long is this table? Let's measure it with our hands.

A hand span is from thumb to little finger.

First, a child measures with small hand spans.

The table is six hand spans long.

Next, a grown-up measures with big hand spans.

Now the same table is four hand spans long.

We got two different answers for the same table.

Why? The hands are different sizes.

Now the child measures with cubes, all the same size.

The table is twelve cubes long.

Then the grown-up measures with the same cubes.

Twelve cubes again. Both get the same answer.

Same size units help everyone get the same answer.

Curriculum

Where this fits

British Columbia, Grade 1

Mathematics, Geometry and measurement: direct measurement with non-standard units (non-uniform and uniform)BC1-MA-14

Previous: Measuring length with units: from a starting line, no gaps, no overlapsNext: Flat Shapes and Solid Objects: A Square and a Block

The outcomes and strands follow the British Columbia curriculum.

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