Picking the Units to Find the Length of a Given Object

In this post we will discuss using different units to measure length of the objects based on their length. We need to tell students that we can measure small lengths such as length of a bookshelf, their height or width of their math book using smaller units which are centimeters or inches. Also we have to tell them that there are about two and half centimeters in one inch. Most rulers in their geometry boxes got both these units.

When it comes to finding the length of a room or a truck or the wall around the school, then centimeters or inches are too small to measure these lengths. Then we have to choose from bigger units which are Meters and Feet. There are 100 centimeters in one meter and 12 inches in one feet.

Also there are very long roads or rivers around there. Then we need even bigger units of length to measure their lengths. These units can be Kilometers or Miles.

There are 1000 meters in 1 kilometer and there are 5280 feet in 1 mile.

Also we need to remind our students that, we have to work on the following two standards to measure lengths.

First standard is called International Standard which uses: Centimeters, Meters and Kilometers to measure lengths.

Second standard is American Standard and it uses: Inches, Feet and Miles to measure lengths.

Below are two worksheets to practice the concept;

Below is the link to 2nd grade math page, where you can print all the content for 2nd grade math

2ND GRADE MATH CORE CURRICULUM