Measurement

Time to Measure

Measurement knowledge has a variety of uses in everyday life. The ability to use measuring tools, rulers, thermometers, scales and to estimate with these tools are necessary skills that enable us to understand the world around us. They can tell us how tall we are, how hot we are, how much we drink, how heavy we are and how far it is from here to there.

Measuring is fundamentally about making comparisons. We start with direct and indirect comparison of objects in the junior school. Asking questions like 'which string is longer', 'who is taller/shorter' gets students ready to learn the concept of measurement. As their understanding grows, standard units of measurements will be introduced.

Some measurement units students will become familiar with during their schooling:


Length - metre (m)

Area - square metre (m2)

Volume - cubic metre (m3)

Mass - gram (g)

Time - second (s) minutes (min) hours (h)

Angle - degree of plane angle (O)

Temperature - degree Celsius (OC)


Some questions to help explore measurement at home:

  • Will this letter fit through the slot of the letterbox?

  • Will the water from this container fit into this other container?

  • Will three rolls of wallpaper cover this section of wall?

  • Will small plate weigh the same amount as this larger plate?

  • Will 20 A4 sheets of paper cover this door?

Measurement skill development through school:

In the junior school students will be beginning to compare items in length by placing them next to each other and making observations.

Students will be learning to:

  • compare items to work out which is longer/shorter

  • recognise and know the days of the week

  • recognise and know the months of the year

  • recognise and know the seasons

To help support students you could:

  • ask comparison questions such as 'Which is longer - the knife or fork?' 'Who is tallest/shortest in the family?'

  • Give your child a item (pen) and they have to find items around the house that are longer/shorter/the same length as it

Measurement in the middle school

In the middle school students students will be developing concepts of time, estimating and measuring using standard units.

Students will be learning to:

  • read hours and half hours on an analogue clock

  • interpret information from a calendar

  • explore length using rulers

  • explore weight and volume using scales

To help support students you could:

  • dicsuss measuring cups while cooking

  • make and discuss a weather chart


Measurement in the senior school

In the senior school students will be building on knowledge and skills developed previously.

Students will be learning to:

  • recognise and use appropriate units of measurement

  • use words of comparison (long, longer, longest)

  • measure using a ruler, metre length, litre jig, cup measure, scales

  • develop understanding of a clock to include seconds, minutes, hours

  • read and write time in both analogue and digital form

To help support students you could:

  • make a time chart for the day with times included

  • discuss weight and volume while cooking.