# Lesson 100: Measuring with nonstandard units

🧮 MATH (40 Lessons) • 🟡 C. Shapes and Measurement

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## Objective

I can measure how long something is using nonstandard units like paper clips or blocks. I can line the units up with no gaps, count how many there are, and say which object is longer or shorter.

## Materials

- Nonstandard units (paper clips, linking cubes, small blocks, or bottle tops)
- Objects to measure (pencils, books, toy cars, crayons, spoons)
- A flat table or floor space
- Pencil and notebook or scrap paper

## Mini-lesson — Measuring with nonstandard units

Sometimes we measure length without using centimetres or a ruler. We can use nonstandard units such as paper clips, blocks, or hand spans.

What are nonstandard units?

- They are same-sized objects we use to measure.
- Examples: paper clips, linking cubes, building blocks, bottle tops.
- We repeat the same unit again and again.

How to measure with units

- Choose one kind of unit (for example, paper clips).
- Line them up from one end of the object to the other.
- Make sure there are no gaps and no overlaps.
- Count how many units it takes. Say, "The pencil is 6 paper clips long."

Comparing with units

- Measure two objects with the same units.
- Compare the numbers you counted.
- More units means a longer object.
- Fewer units means a shorter object.

In this lesson, we use nonstandard units to build the idea of measuring length. We care about lining up units, counting carefully, and using comparison words, not about centimetres yet.

Picture strip: Measuring with paper clips

Pencil and paper clips

Compare with the SAME units

## Guided Practice — Measure with paper clips or blocks

You will measure real objects using one kind of nonstandard unit (paper clips, cubes, or blocks). Then you will use the tracing pad to write important measurement words.

1. Choose your units: Pick paper clips, cubes, or another same-sized object to use as your unit.
2. Pick something to measure: Choose a pencil. Place it on the table in a straight line.
3. Line up units: Put your units along the pencil, starting at one end. Make sure there are no gaps and no overlaps.
4. Count the units: Count carefully: "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6". Say, "The pencil is 6 paper clips long".
5. Measure another object: Try a crayon or a toy car with the same units. Compare the numbers and say which object is longer or shorter.
6. Record your work: In your notebook, draw a quick picture and write a sentence such as "The book is 8 blocks long".
7. Use the tracing pad: Choose words such as unit, long, short, measure, or clip and trace them. Add a tiny picture of your measuring units under the words.

Tracing Pad
Lines
Trace
Pen

## Practice 1 — Measure objects with units

[PLACEHOLDER PRACTICE 1]

## Practice 2 — Compare lengths using unit counts

[PLACEHOLDER PRACTICE 2]

## Practice 3 — Write measurement sentences

[PLACEHOLDER PRACTICE 3]

## Quick Check — Measuring with nonstandard units

Answer each question about measuring with nonstandard units. You may use real objects and paper clips or blocks to help you think.

1) What is a nonstandard unit?

A special kind of ruler with numbers. A same-sized object like a paper clip or block used to measure. Any picture you draw.
Nonstandard units are repeated, same-sized objects used for measuring.

2) Which of these could be used as nonstandard units?

Paper clips that are all the same size. Different-sized toys mixed together. A picture on the wall.
We need units that are the same size, like identical paper clips.

3) What should you do first when measuring a pencil with paper clips?

Put the clips anywhere on the page. Start in the middle of the pencil. Line the first paper clip up with one end of the pencil.
Start at one end of the object and line up the first unit there.

4) When you place your units, how should they look?

Touching with no gaps or overlaps. With big spaces between them. On top of each other in a pile.
Units should touch, with no gaps or overlaps, for a fair measurement.

5) The pencil is 5 blocks long. The crayon is 3 blocks long. Which is true?

The crayon is longer. The pencil is longer. They are the same length.
More blocks means the pencil is longer than the crayon.

6) You measure a toy car and say, "It is 6 paper clips long". What does the number 6 tell you?

How old the toy is. How many colours it has. How many paper clips fit along its length.
The number tells how many units fit along the object.

7) Why do we use the same kind of unit when we compare two objects?

So the measurement is fair and we can compare the numbers. So we can guess instead of count. So the objects change size.
Using the same unit makes the comparison fair and meaningful.

8) The spoon is 4 cubes long. The fork is 7 cubes long. Which sentence is correct?

The spoon is longer than the fork. The fork is longer than the spoon. The spoon and fork are the same length.
7 cubes is more than 4 cubes, so the fork is longer.

9) Which question is about using nonstandard units?

"How loud is the drum?" "What time is it?" "How many paper clips long is the book?"
Nonstandard units questions ask how many same-sized objects fit along an item.

10) You measure a book and count 8 blocks. What should you say?

"The book is 8 blocks long." "The book is 8 loud." "The book is 8 colours."
We describe length by saying how many units long the object is.

11) If you leave big gaps between your paper clips, what happens?

You get a very fair measurement. The measurement is too small and not correct. The object becomes longer.
Gaps make the number of units too small, so the measurement is not correct.

12) If your units overlap each other, what happens?

You always count fewer units. It does not matter for measuring. The measurement is not fair because the units are not in a straight line.
Overlapping units makes the measurement unfair and confusing.

13) Why do teachers use nonstandard units before rulers?

To help children understand what measuring length means using simple objects. So children never learn about centimetres. So we can only count toys.
Nonstandard units build the idea of measurement before using standard tools.

14) Which sentence uses good maths language?

"The toy is big and kind of long." "The toy car is 6 cubes long and is longer than the eraser." "The toy is nice."
Good maths language tells how many units and compares clearly.

15) After you measure an object with nonstandard units, what is a good thing to do next?

Put everything away without talking. Change the number you counted for fun. Explain how you lined up the units and what your number means.
Explaining your steps and what the number means shows strong understanding.

## Assessment (parent/teacher)

Student can explain what a nonstandard unit is in simple words. Student can line up nonstandard units with no gaps or overlaps to measure an object. Student can tell how many units long an object is using a clear sentence. Student can compare two objects and say which is longer or shorter using unit counts. Student can explain why using the same unit makes measuring and comparing fair.

## Exit ticket (student)

😀 I can measure with nonstandard units easily. 🙂 I can measure some things but still need more practice. 😅 Measuring with units still feels tricky for me.

#### Next time I will practise…

Lining up my units with no gaps Counting carefully how many units long something is Comparing two objects using the number of units
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