Grade 1
The Human Knowledge Project
Unit 9 — Measuring the World Around Us
Welcome back!
Every day we measure things.
We measure:
- how tall we are
- how long a table is
- how much something weighs
- how much water fills a cup
- how far we walk
Measurement helps us describe our world.
Long and Short
Some objects are long.
Some are short.
Compare these:
- a pencil
- a crayon
- a ruler
- a book
Which is longest?
Which is shortest?
Looking carefully helps us compare objects.
Tall and Short
People, trees, and buildings all have height.
Look around you.
Can you find something:
- taller than you?
- shorter than you?
- about the same height?
Height is another kind of measurement.
Heavy and Light
Some things are heavy.
Some things are light.
Compare:
- a feather
- a rock
- a backpack
- a book
Which one is heavier?
Which one is lighter?
We can often estimate before we lift something.
Full and Empty
Containers can hold different amounts.
Look at:
- a cup
- a bottle
- a bucket
Some hold a little.
Some hold a lot.
This is called capacity.
Measuring with Simple Tools
People use many tools to measure.
Some common tools are:
- rulers
- measuring tapes
- scales
- measuring cups
Each tool is designed for a different kind of measurement.
Estimating
Sometimes we make a good guess before measuring.
This is called an estimate.
For example:
"That table looks about as long as three books."
After estimating, we can measure and compare our guess.
Good estimators become better with practice.
Activity
Choose five objects.
For each object, decide:
- Is it long or short?
- Is it heavy or light?
- Does it hold a little or a lot?
Now compare your answers with a family member, teacher, or classmate.
Practice
Complete these sentences.
A chair is usually __________ than a pencil.
A backpack is usually __________ than a feather.
A bucket usually holds __________ than a cup.
One thing taller than me is __________________.
One thing lighter than my shoe is __________________.
Review
Today you learned:
- how people measure the world
- how to compare length
- how to compare height
- how to compare weight
- how to compare capacity
- how estimating helps us think before measuring
Measurement helps us describe the world with greater accuracy.
Looking Ahead
Next we will learn about time.
We will discover:
- days
- weeks
- months
- clocks
- telling time
- planning our day
Understanding time helps us organize our lives.