For this lesson, young scholars will use hands on inquiry in cooperative learning groups to understand, develop and analyze common measurements used by astronomers. Students will use common objects such as straws, twizzlers, or toothpicks to measure the distance from a fixed object or central location to other objects. The young scholars will then use this information to develop a unit of measurement like the astronomical unit. The students will measure the speed of an object such as a remote control car and use this to develop a unit similar to the lightyear. This lesson plan was created as a result of the Girls Engaged in Math and Science, GEMS Project funded by the Malone Family Foundation.