Measurement is important because it helps to quantify the world around us and is useful in so many aspects of everyday life. Students in grades K–3 should encounter measurement in many normal situations, from their daily use of the calendar and from science activities that often require students to measure objects or compare them directly, to situations in stories they are reading and to descriptions of how quickly they are growing.
Measurement instruction at the primary level focuses on developing the skills and tools needed to measure length, weight/mass, capacity, time, temperature, area, perimeter, volume, and money. Measurement at this level lends itself especially well to the use of concrete materials. Children can see the usefulness of measurement if classroom experiences focus on estimating and measuring real objects. They gain deep understanding of the concepts of measurement when handling the materials, making physical comparisons, and measuring with tools.
As students develop a sense of the attributes of measurement and the concept of a measurement unit, they also begin to recognize the differences between using nonstandard and standard units of measure. Learning should give them opportunities to apply both techniques and nonstandard and standard tools to find measurements and to develop an understanding of the use of simple U.S. Customary and metric units.
Teaching measurement offers the challenge to involve students actively and physically in learning and is an opportunity to tie together other aspects of the mathematical curriculum, such as fractions and geometry. It is also one of the major vehicles by which mathematics can make connections with other content areas, such as science, health, and physical education
Virginia Mathematics Standards of Learning
Measurement
K.7 The student will recognize a penny, nickel, dime, and quarter and will determine the value of a collection of pennies and/or nickels whose total value is 10 cents or less.
K.8 The student will identify the instruments used to measure length (ruler), weight (scale), time (clock: digital and analog; calendar: day, month, and season), and temperature (thermometer).
K.9 The student will tell time to the hour, using analog and digital clocks.
K.10 The student will compare two objects or events, using direct comparisons or nonstandard units of measure, according to one or more of the following attributes: length (shorter, longer), height (taller, shorter), weight (heavier, lighter), temperature (hotter, colder). Examples of nonstandard units include foot length, hand span, new pencil, paper clip, and block.
Measurement instruction at the primary level focuses on developing the skills and tools needed to measure length, weight/mass, capacity, time, temperature, area, perimeter, volume, and money. Measurement at this level lends itself especially well to the use of concrete materials. Children can see the usefulness of measurement if classroom experiences focus on estimating and measuring real objects. They gain deep understanding of the concepts of measurement when handling the materials, making physical comparisons, and measuring with tools.
As students develop a sense of the attributes of measurement and the concept of a measurement unit, they also begin to recognize the differences between using nonstandard and standard units of measure. Learning should give them opportunities to apply both techniques and nonstandard and standard tools to find measurements and to develop an understanding of the use of simple U.S. Customary and metric units.
Teaching measurement offers the challenge to involve students actively and physically in learning and is an opportunity to tie together other aspects of the mathematical curriculum, such as fractions and geometry. It is also one of the major vehicles by which mathematics can make connections with other content areas, such as science, health, and physical education
Virginia Mathematics Standards of Learning
Measurement
K.7 The student will recognize a penny, nickel, dime, and quarter and will determine the value of a collection of pennies and/or nickels whose total value is 10 cents or less.
K.8 The student will identify the instruments used to measure length (ruler), weight (scale), time (clock: digital and analog; calendar: day, month, and season), and temperature (thermometer).
K.9 The student will tell time to the hour, using analog and digital clocks.
K.10 The student will compare two objects or events, using direct comparisons or nonstandard units of measure, according to one or more of the following attributes: length (shorter, longer), height (taller, shorter), weight (heavier, lighter), temperature (hotter, colder). Examples of nonstandard units include foot length, hand span, new pencil, paper clip, and block.