Estimating lengths

You can estimate a length of an object or distance by comparing it with the length of something you know.

Use you handspan or your step to measure the length of something.

Find out how long your garden or bedroom is by measuring in steps. How many steps does it take to get to the end?

How long is a table or maybe your bed? Measure in handspans to find out.

What other things can you measure with steps or handspans?

Length words

Height is measured upwards. It's how tall something stands.

Distance is measured between two places, from beginning to end.

Width is measured from side to side.

Depth is measured downwards. You would measure how deep a swimming pool is.

Measuring length with steps is not a good way of measure as everyone has different sized feet. So instead we use centimetres and metres to measure things.

Estimate and measure with Chef Pierre
Estimate and measure how many cinnamon rolls long Chef Pierre's trays are.

Dinosaur Dive
Pick dinosaurs to dive into the water to raise the water to different levels.

Length

We measure centimetres with a ruler. We write how long something is by writing the number followed by cm (this is short for centimetres).

=7cm

Measure objects around the house to the nearest centimetre and write down how long they are. What is the smallest and biggest object you can find?

Try estimating the length of something and guess to see if you are right.

Measuring in Centimetres
Measuring the objects with the ruler. Select level 2.

Measuring equipment

There are many different types of equipment to measure with.

A ruler is used to measure small things.

A tape measure is used to measure longer things. You can also get a fabric tape measure to measure things that are not straight like the size of your head.

A trundle wheel is used for long things such as playgrounds. You push the wheel along and it clicks everytime it measures a metre.

Coconut Ordering
Throw the balls at the coconuts in order of size. Choose between Length, Mass or Capacity.