University of Texas at Austin
Mathematics Teks Toolkit: Measuring Real Stuff
Nonstandard units of measure are used to compare lengths and weights of real-world objects.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Measuring Lengths With Different Units
In this lesson, students units use different units to measure the same object.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Hop on Pop and Non Standard Measurement
This instructional activity is a hands-on, cross-curricular instructional activity for exploring non-standard measurement. It utilizes children's literature, manipulatives, opportunities for writing, and small group collaborative...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Growing and Graphing
Students visit a 2nd and a 4th grade class to measure the heights of older students using large building blocks as a non-standard unit of measure. They can also measure adults in the school community. Results are displayed in...
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Mad About Measuring
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart has good beginning activities for introducing measuring with an inch ruler.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Souper Scooper
This hands-on, inquiry based lesson is an extension of the AMSTI Science Module, Solids and Liquids. Students use nonstandard units to measure beans in a soup mix. Students predict how many beans will be in a scoop. Students group beans...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: How Tall Are We?
Kindergartners measure each other's height using large building blocks, then visit a 2nd and a 4th grade class to measure those students. They can also measure adults in the school community. Results are displayed in age-appropriate bar...
Education Place
Houghton Mifflin: Eduplace: Extra Practice Quiz Nonstandard Units 1
Practice using a variety of nonstandard units to measure the length of various objects. Read the interactive quiz rules and then click on the "Begin" ticket. If you answer incorrectly you get one more chance to try again then you are...
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Let's Measure
[Free Registration/Login Required] Students will use this flip chart to measure to the nearest eighth of an inch. The ruler has been enlarged to focus on the half, fourth, eighth, and sixteenth increments.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Measurement
[Free Registration/Login Required] Students guess the length of objects then check for accuracy using standard and nonstandard measuring devices.
University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge: Nrich: Hand Span
Use this one page website to practice measuring things using nonstandard units of measurement. There is a solutions page that is right at the website for more information.
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: No More Peas, Please!
In this activity, students explore the use of nonstandard units of volume and calculators to estimate the number of peas it would take to fill a class room.
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Fishy Tales
Students tell how long an object is by measuring it using paper clips and comparing it to other objects measured with the same non-standard unit of measurement.
TryEngineering
Try Engineering: Spring Scale Engineering
Learners learn about the engineering design process as they design, build, and test a spring scale using everyday items that can measure the weight of an apple. The objective of the lesson is to explore how scales work and to learn about...