Find personal benchmarks of similar length to formal units. Build mental benchmarks by knowing, for example, that from elbow to wrist is 12 inches - the length of a ruler. Choose the best tool to measure each object (a ruler, a yardstick, or a measuring tape), and build number sense by estimating lengths with non-standard and standard units.
Use benchmarks to develop a sense of length. Measure your arm to know which part is 12 inches – the length of a ruler. Measure your height to know which part of your body is 3 feet tall – the length of a yardstick. Which tool do you use to measure a pencil? It's shorter than your forearm, so a ruler. An umbrella? It's longer than your forearm so a yardstick. Prerequisites: 2-114, 2-113
To develop "measurement sense," measure many different objects, both at school and at home. For small objects, use a ruler to measure in inches or centimeters. For medium objects, use a yard or meter stick. For large objects, use a measuring tape to measure in feet or meters. Prerequisites: 2-115 ○ 2-114, 2-113
Build number sense with U.S. standard units – inches and feet. What has a length of about 1 inch? The width of a quarter. What has a length of 1 foot? A standard ruler. Is the length of a toothbrush 8 inches or 8 feet? Is the length of a bed 6 feet or 60 feet? Use the known lengths of common objects as benchmarks. Prerequisites: 2-116 ○ 2-113