Measurement - First Grade
What is Measurement?
Concept: Measurement helps us describe and compare the size, length, height, and weight of objects around us!
Why Do We Measure?
✓ To compare objects
✓ To describe things accurately
✓ To understand differences in size and weight
✓ To solve everyday problems
💡 Tip: We use measurement every day - when we buy clothes, cook food, or play sports!
1. Long and Short
Concept: Length is how much distance an object covers from one end to the other. "Long" means greater length, "Short" means less length.
📏 LONG
Meaning: Covers more distance from end to end
Long pencil
📏 SHORT
Meaning: Covers less distance from end to end
Short pencil
Visual Comparison
Compare these objects:
LONGER
SHORTER
The green bar is LONGER than the red bar
Real-Life Examples:
LONG Objects:
• Train (longer than a car)
• Snake (longer than a worm)
• School bus (longer than a bicycle)
• Rope (longer than a ribbon)
SHORT Objects:
• Eraser (shorter than a pencil)
• Paper clip (shorter than a ruler)
• Button (shorter than a book)
• Key (shorter than a spoon)
How to Compare Length:
1. Place both objects next to each other
2. Line them up at one end
3. See which one reaches farther
4. The one that goes farther is LONGER
💡 Tip: When comparing, always start from the same point to see which is longer!
2. Tall and Short
Concept: Height is how high something stands from bottom to top. "Tall" means greater height, "Short" means less height.
⬆️ TALL
Meaning: Greater distance from bottom to top (higher)
Tall building
⬇️ SHORT
Meaning: Less distance from bottom to top (lower)
Short house
Height Comparison
TALLEST
MEDIUM
SHORTEST
Real-Life Examples:
TALL Objects:
• Giraffe (taller than a zebra)
• Tree (taller than a bush)
• Dad (taller than a child)
• Lamp post (taller than a mailbox)
SHORT Objects (in height):
• Puppy (shorter than an adult dog)
• Stool (shorter than a chair)
• Cup (shorter than a bottle)
• Grass (shorter than flowers)
Difference Between Long and Tall:
• LONG/SHORT: Used for horizontal measurement (side to side)
• TALL/SHORT: Used for vertical measurement (bottom to top)
• A pencil lying down is LONG, but standing up is TALL
💡 Tip: We use "tall" for people, buildings, and trees. We use "high" for mountains and planes!
3. Light and Heavy
Concept: Weight tells us how heavy or light something is. "Heavy" means more weight, "Light" means less weight.
⚖️ HEAVY
Meaning: Has more weight, hard to lift
💪 Needs strength to lift
🪶 LIGHT
Meaning: Has less weight, easy to lift
👌 Easy to lift
Weight Comparison with Balance
Imagine a balance scale:
HEAVIER ⬇️
(goes down)
LIGHTER ⬆️
(goes up)
Real-Life Examples:
HEAVY Objects:
• Elephant (heavier than a mouse)
• Car (heavier than a bicycle)
• Backpack full of books (heavier than an empty bag)
• Watermelon (heavier than an apple)
LIGHT Objects:
• Feather (lighter than a stone)
• Balloon (lighter than a ball)
• Paper (lighter than a book)
• Cotton (lighter than a rock)
How to Compare Weight:
1. Hold one object in each hand
2. Feel which one pushes down more
3. The one that feels heavier IS heavier
4. You can also use a balance scale to compare
Important Weight Facts:
✓ Heavy objects sink in water, light objects usually float
✓ Big objects are not always heavy (like a balloon)
✓ Small objects can be heavy (like a stone)
✓ Weight is different from size!
💡 Tip: Size doesn't always tell you weight - a big pillow is light, but a small rock is heavy!
4. Compare Size and Weight
Concept: Learn to compare multiple objects by their size (length/height) and weight to find which is biggest, smallest, heaviest, or lightest.
Comparison Words We Use
📏 Size Comparisons
Longer ↔️ Shorter
Longest ↔️ Shortest
Taller ↔️ Shorter
Tallest ↔️ Shortest
Bigger ↔️ Smaller
Biggest ↔️ Smallest
⚖️ Weight Comparisons
Heavier ↔️ Lighter
Heaviest ↔️ Lightest
More heavy ↔️ Less heavy
Weighs more ↔️ Weighs less
Same weight = Equal
Comparing Three Objects:
Example 1: Comparing Length
Objects: Pencil (15 cm), Crayon (8 cm), Ruler (30 cm)
✓ Longest: Ruler (30 cm)
✓ Medium: Pencil (15 cm)
✓ Shortest: Crayon (8 cm)
Example 2: Comparing Weight
Objects: Apple, Feather, Book
✓ Heaviest: Book
✓ Medium: Apple
✓ Lightest: Feather
Size vs Weight - Important Difference!
| Object | Size | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Balloon | BIG | LIGHT |
| Small Stone | SMALL | HEAVY |
| Cotton Ball | MEDIUM | VERY LIGHT |
⚠️ Remember: BIG does not always mean HEAVY! Size and weight are different!
Steps to Compare Multiple Objects:
Step 1: Look at all objects carefully
Step 2: Decide what you're comparing (size or weight)
Step 3: Compare two at a time
Step 4: Order them from smallest to biggest (or lightest to heaviest)
💡 Tip: Use comparison words like "more than," "less than," and "the same as" when comparing!
Measurement Quick Reference
| Measurement Type | What It Measures | Comparison Words | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | Distance from end to end (horizontal) | Long, Short, Longer, Shorter | A bus is longer than a car |
| Height | Distance from bottom to top (vertical) | Tall, Short, Taller, Shorter | A tree is taller than a bush |
| Weight | How heavy something is | Heavy, Light, Heavier, Lighter | An elephant is heavier than a cat |
Important Measurement Vocabulary
- Measure: To find the size, length, height, or weight of something
- Length: How long something is from one end to the other
- Height: How tall something is from bottom to top
- Weight: How heavy or light something is
- Compare: To look at differences and similarities between objects
- Balance: A tool used to compare weights
- Size: How big or small something is
- Equal: The same amount, size, or weight
🎯 Tips for Measurement Success 🎯
- ✓ Always line up objects at one end when comparing length
- ✓ Place objects on a flat surface to see which is taller
- ✓ Use both hands to feel the difference in weight
- ✓ Remember: big doesn't always mean heavy!
- ✓ Practice measuring things around your house
- ✓ Use comparison words when describing objects!
⭐ You're a Measurement Master! ⭐
Fantastic work learning about measurement! You now know how to compare length, height, and weight. You can tell which objects are longer, shorter, taller, heavier, and lighter. These skills will help you understand the world around you better. Keep measuring and comparing!