Hands-on Ways to Teach Measurement

It’s that time of year. We’re talking about measurement.

If you’re stumped on how to teach your students the concept in a way that makes sense, you’re not alone. I totally get it. Measurement isn’t exciting to talk about, but it’s something kids need to understand. Here are several hands-on measurement activities to help make things exciting for your students.

Measurement Anchor Charts

Before you do anything, print out these free measurement anchor charts. 

They come in full-size and minis, so you can use them in various ways. From morning meetings to small group instruction, the possibilities are endless.

These colorful resources:

  • Define what length is
  • Demonstrate how to measure using a variety of tools (paper clips, cubes, ruler)
  • Show the importance of measuring end-to-end
  • Explain how to measure to the nearest half-inch. 

Download your FREE measuring anchor charts below:

Measurement Web Resources

Online resources are a huge help in introducing, explaining, and clarifying math concepts. Here’s a measurement round-up of resources you can use during whole class, small group, or individual instruction. 

Measuring! Mini Math Movies

If you are introducing your students to measurement for the first time, this 7-minute measuring video is a fun resource to get the concept rolling. It explains the basic foundations of measurement and will help warm students up to the idea. Watch it here!

Scholastic’s Study Jams

Study Jams from Scholastic is a free website filled with a variety of interactive resources for math and science.

An entire section of their resource library is dedicated to measurement, covering a wide range of topics, from the basics to higher-level learning. They offer videos that explain concepts step-by-step for digestible learning. There are lessons about tools for measuring, measuring length, customary units of length, and more!

ABCya Strolling with My Gnomies

Students love the Strolling with My Gnomies game on ABCya.com! 

Help the gnome measure treasures as he walks through the garden. Choose from inches or centimeters and whole, halves, quarters, or eighths. 

Centers & Small Group Ideas

Centers and small groups provide open-ended opportunities for hands-on measuring activities. 

Stock your learning areas with measurement tools such as: 

  • Unifix cubes
  • Measuring links
  • Counting bears
  • Rulers
  • Yardsticks
  • Tape measures
  • Paper clips, crayons, clothespins, and more

Measure the Room

Encourage students to use measuring tools to measure items in the classroom, such as desks, books, carpets, etc. Have them write down their findings on a sheet of paper. 

Comparing Length 

Have students measure and compare the lengths of different objects using terms such as:

  • Shorter than
  • Longer than
  • Taller than
  • Larger than
  • The same as

They can also trace the objects onto paper, side-by-side, and write the measurements down.  

True or False

Create cards that have true or false measurement questions for specific objects in your center.

Here’s an example – True or false: Is the red book 5 inches long?

Students will need to measure the red book to determine the answer. If you aren’t teaching students to use rulers just yet, cubes or links are another great alternative. 

Wrapping Up Measuring

These hands-on activities and interactive online resources will help make measurement a fun and exciting unit. Let’s get measuring!

Join the Anchor Chart Club for year-round access to anchor charts for math, science, language arts, and more. Say goodbye to spending hours on prep and focus on what matters most – engaging with your students in the classroom.