Grade 1
  1. Numbers and Counting  1.1. Counting to 10  1.2. Counting to 20  1.3. Counting to 50  1.4. Counting to 100  1.5. Writing Numbers 1 to 10  1.6. Writing Numbers 1 to 20  1.7. Writing Numbers 1 to 50  1.8. Writing Numbers 1 to 100  1.9. Reading Numbers 1 to 10  1.10. Reading Numbers 1 to 20  1.11. Reading Numbers 1 to 50  1.12. Reading Numbers 1 to 100  1.13. Comparing Numbers  1.14. Ordering Numbers  1.15. Odd and Even Numbers  1.16. Number Patterns  1.17. Skip Counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s  1.18. Understanding Zero
  2. Basic Addition and Subtraction  2.1. Understanding Addition  2.2. Addition Facts within 10  2.3. Addition Facts within 20  2.4. Adding Zero  2.5. Adding One More  2.6. Adding Two More  2.7. Adding Three More  2.8. Adding Using Pictures  2.9. Addition Word Problems  2.10. Understanding Subtraction  2.11. Subtraction Facts within 10  2.12. Subtraction Facts within 20  2.13. Subtracting Zero  2.14. Subtracting One  2.15. Subtracting Two  2.16. Subtraction Using Pictures  2.17. Subtraction Word Problems  2.18. Introduction to Doubles Facts  2.19. Introduction to Making 10
  3. Place Value and Number Sense  3.1. Understanding Tens and Ones  3.2. Counting by Tens  3.3. Place Value within 20  3.4. Place Value within 50  3.5. Place Value within 100  3.6. Reading and Writing Two-Digit Numbers  3.7. Comparing Two-Digit Numbers  3.8. Decomposing Numbers
  4. Measurement  4.1. Length  4.1.1. Comparing Lengths  4.1.2. Measuring with Non-Standard Units  4.1.3. Using Standard Units (Inches and Centimeters) in Length  4.2. Weight  4.2.1. Comparing Weights  4.2.2. Heavy and Light Objects  4.2.3. Introduction to Grams and Pounds  4.3. Capacity  4.3.1. Comparing Capacity  4.3.2. Full and Empty  4.3.3. Introduction to Liters and Milliliters  4.4. Time  4.4.1. Telling Time to the Hour  4.4.2. Telling Time to the Half Hour  4.4.3. Days of the Week  4.4.4. Months of the Year  4.4.5. Understanding Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow  4.5. Money  4.5.1. Recognizing Coins  4.5.2. Counting Coins  4.5.3. Introduction to Dollar and Cents Symbols  4.5.4. Simple Addition and Subtraction with Money
  5. Geometry  5.1. 2D Shapes  5.1.1. Recognizing 2D Shapes  5.1.2. Drawing 2D Shapes  5.1.3. Naming 2D Shapes  5.1.4. Properties of 2D Shapes  5.1.5. Sorting 2D Shapes  5.1.6. Composing Simple Shapes  5.2. 3D Shapes  5.2.1. Recognizing 3D Shapes  5.2.2. Naming 3D Shapes  5.2.3. Properties of 3D Shapes  5.2.4. Sorting 3D Shapes  5.3. Position and Direction  5.3.1. Left and Right  5.3.2. Above and Below  5.3.3. Inside and Outside  5.3.4. Near and Far  5.3.5. In Front and Behind
  6. Patterns and Sorting  6.1. Recognizing Patterns  6.2. Extending Patterns  6.3. Creating Patterns  6.4. Sorting by Color  6.5. Sorting by Shape  6.6. Sorting by Size
  7. Data and Graphing  7.1. Introduction to Data  7.2. Collecting Data  7.3. Tally Marks  7.4. Bar Graphs  7.5. Picture Graphs  7.6. Interpreting Simple Graphs
  8. Fractions  8.1. Understanding Halves  8.2. Understanding Fourths  8.3. Dividing Shapes into Equal Parts  8.4. Identifying Equal and Unequal Parts

Grade 1 → Measurement → Length ↓


Using Standard Units (Inches and Centimeters) in Length


Welcome to the exciting world of measuring length using standard units! In Class 1, students begin learning to measure objects using units such as inches and centimeters. These are standard ways of measuring length that help people around the world understand size and distance. Understanding these units forms a foundation for more advanced math concepts later, but let's understand it step by step.

Understanding length

Length tells us how long something is from one end to the other. We measure length to find out how tall buildings are, how far we can jump, or how long our pencil is. Measurement is everywhere, and it's something we use every day without thinking. In math, being precise with measurements means using the same units that everyone else uses - that's where standard units like inches and centimeters come in.

What are inches?

The inch is a unit of measurement used mostly in the United States. It is part of a system called the "Imperial System." When you hear someone say, "This book is 6 inches long," they are using this unit of length. An inch can also be made up of smaller parts called fractions such as a half inch, which is written as 1/2 inch, or a quarter inch, which is written as 1/4 inch.

What are centimeters?

Centimeters are part of the metric system, which is used around the world. A centimeter is much smaller than an inch. You might hear, "This leaf is 10 centimeters long." The metric system is organized in tens, so there are 100 centimeters in a meter. This makes it easy to convert to larger units.

Comparison of inches and centimeters

You might be wondering how these two units are equal to each other. Here's a simple formula to remember:

1 inch = 2.54 centimetres

This means that one inch is equal to about 2.5 of those little centimeters. This also tells us that if you have a number in inches and you want to convert it to centimeters, you need to multiply by 2.54. For example, to find out how many centimeters 5 inches is, you need to do this math:

5 inches x 2.54 = 12.7 centimeters

This gives us a new way to talk about height that makes sense no matter where you are in the world!

Measuring objects in inches and centimeters

Let's practice measuring different objects using inches and centimeters. Imagine you have a small box and you want to know how long it is.

Example 1: Measuring a pencil

Let's say you measure your favorite pencil:

Using inches: If your pencil is 7 inches long, you would write:

Pencil: 7 inch

Using centimeters: Convert inches to centimeters:

7 inches x 2.54 = 17.78 centimeters

Your pencil is 17.78 centimeters long.

Example 2: Measuring your shoes

What happens if you measure your shoes?

In inches: It will probably be about 9 inches long.

Shoe: 9 inches

Convert to centimeters:

9 inches x 2.54 = 22.86 centimeters

Your shoe is 22.86 centimeters long.

Using a ruler

One of the best tools for measuring is a ruler. Rulers usually have two sides: one side shows inches, and the other shows centimeters. Let's look at how you read a ruler to measure length:

0 1 2 3 4 5 Inch

On the ruler, long lines represent whole inches, and short lines represent fractions of an inch. On the other side of the ruler, lines represent centimeters, which are usually whole numbers. This dual measurement makes it convenient to work with both systems.

Why do we use standard units?

We use standard units so everyone has a common way to measure things. If everyone used different units, it could get very confusing. Imagine if one person measured a table in inches and another measured it at arm's length. They would come up with very different numbers! By using inches and centimeters, we all speak the same "measurement language."

Measurement practice

Let's do some fun activities to practice measuring in inches and centimeters:

Activity 1: Measuring things around you

  1. Find a small object, like a toy car or spoon.
  2. Use a ruler to measure this in inches.
  3. Write down the number of inches.
  4. Now turn your ruler around and measure the same object in centimeters.
  5. Write down that number also.

Try this with different objects too, like a book, a shoe, or even a cup!

Activity 2: Convert your measurements

  1. Take the measurements you took during Activity 1 in inches.
  2. Use the conversion formula to convert inches to centimeters:
    3. inches x 2.54
  3. For example, if your notebook is 8 inches, convert it like this: 8 x 2.54 = 20.32 centimeters.
  4. Check how close it is to the centimeter measurement you took with your ruler!

Activity 3: Create a measurement chart

  1. Draw two long lines on a large piece of paper.
  2. Label the first line "Inches" and the second line "Centimeter."
  3. Write the inch number on every inch along the "Inches" line. Do the same for every centimeter on the "Centimeter" line.
  4. Decorate your chart with colors if you wish.

Hang it in your room for easy reference!

Wrapping up

Learning to use standard units like inches and centimeters equips you with the skills to accurately measure anything. By practicing with these units, you'll be ready to tackle larger and more complex measurements in the future. Remember, measurement is everywhere, from the length of bridges to the size of your dinner plate - this is part of what makes math fun and practical!

You're now one step closer to becoming a measurement expert. Use what you've learned and discover more around you. How tall is your desk? How tall is your favorite tree in centimeters? These adventures in measurement start with an inch or a centimeter!


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Using Standard Units (Inches and Centimeters) in Length

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