Measurement
Learning Objectives
- Compare lengths using words: long, short, tall, taller, shorter.
- Compare weights using words: heavy, light, heavier, lighter.
- Compare capacity using words: full, empty, more, less.
- Measure length using non-standard units like hand spans, pencils, and steps.
- Understand why we need standard units of measurement.
Let Us Begin!
Ravi wants to know if his cricket bat is longer than Meena's skipping rope. He places them side by side and compares. We compare things every day! We compare how long, how tall, how heavy, or how much water a container can hold. This is called measurement.
In India, shopkeepers measure cloth in metres, vegetables in kilograms, and milk in litres. Let us learn about measurement step by step!
Comparing Lengths and Heights
We use words like long, short, tall, taller, shorter, longer to compare lengths and heights.
A train is longer than an auto-rickshaw.
A coconut tree is taller than a tulsi plant.
A pencil is shorter than a cricket bat.
Arjun is taller than his younger sister Priya.
How to compare: Place objects side by side with one end lined up. The one that sticks out more is longer or taller.
Comparing Weights
We use words like heavy, light, heavier, lighter to compare weights.
A watermelon is heavier than a guava.
A bag of rice (5 kg) is heavier than a bag of chips.
A feather is lighter than a cricket ball.
An elephant is heavier than a dog.
How to compare: Hold one object in each hand. The hand that goes down holds the heavier object. We can also use a simple balance (weighing scale).
Comparing Capacity
Capacity means how much liquid a container can hold. We use words like full, empty, more, less.
A bucket holds more water than a glass.
A spoon holds less water than a jug.
Amma's cooking pot is full of dal.
After drinking, Ravi's glass is empty.
Measuring with Non-Standard Units
Before rulers were invented, people used their hands, feet, and other objects to measure. These are called non-standard units.
| Non-Standard Unit | How to Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Hand span | Stretch your thumb and little finger apart | The desk is 6 hand spans long |
| Foot length | Place one foot in front of the other | The room is 15 foot lengths long |
| Pencil | Place pencils end to end | The book is 2 pencils long |
| Steps (pace) | Walk and count your steps | The playground is 50 steps long |
Arjun measured the same desk. It was only 6 hand spans long!
Why the difference? Because Arjun's hand is bigger than Sita's hand!
Standard Units (Introduction)
Standard units are the same for everyone. Here are some common ones:
| What We Measure | Standard Unit | Tool Used |
|---|---|---|
| Length / Height | Centimetre (cm), Metre (m) | Ruler, Measuring tape |
| Weight | Gram (g), Kilogram (kg) | Weighing scale |
| Capacity (liquid) | Millilitre (mL), Litre (L) | Measuring cup |
Your pencil is about 15 cm long.
A cricket pitch is 22 metres long.
A packet of chips weighs about 30 grams.
A bottle of water holds 1 litre.
Key Words
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Length | How long or short something is |
| Height | How tall or short something is |
| Weight | How heavy or light something is |
| Capacity | How much liquid a container can hold |
| Non-standard unit | An everyday object used to measure (hand span, pencil, step) |
| Standard unit | A fixed unit like centimetre, kilogram, or litre |
| Compare | To look at two things and see which is more or less |
- Long and short describe length. Tall and short describe height.
- Heavy and light describe weight.
- Full and empty describe capacity.
- To compare lengths, place objects side by side with one end lined up.
- Non-standard units (hand span, pencil) can be used to measure, but they give different answers for different people.
- Standard units like centimetres, kilograms, and litres are the same for everyone.
- We use a ruler to measure length, a weighing scale for weight, and a measuring cup for capacity.
Finished learning? Now test what you know!