Find length, the shortest distance between two points, to measure colored bars. Start with informal, concrete units, such as paper clips, before being introduced to the abstract idea of inches or centimeters. Paper clips are easy to count and compare, as long as the units are placed end-to-end, with no gaps.
To develop counting and grouping skills in a practical and visual way, measure the length of colored bars using informal units – big or small paper clips placed end-to-end with no gaps or overlaps. Count, add, and compare to measure length in paper clips, an informal unit of measure.
Transition from 1 bar to 2 bars to count, add, compare, and introduce the concept of "difference" – how much longer or shorter one bar is than the other. Encourage students to think strategically by figuring out the length of the shorter bar first, then counting on or adding on to find the length of the longer bar. Prerequisites: K-69
Enrich by generalizing from 2 bars to 3 bars. How long are they? Think strategically by measuring the shortest bar first. How many more paper clips are the longer bars? Use their differences to figure out their lengths. Put the bars in order from shortest to longest. Supplement part-total with comparative thinking. Prerequisites: K-70