Cluster 1: Measure lengths indirectly and by iterating length units. (Major Cluster)Archived

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Clusters should not be sorted from Major to Supporting and then taught in that order. To do so would strip the coherence of the mathematical ideas and miss the opportunity to enhance the major work of the grade with the supporting clusters.

General Information
Number: MAFS.1.MD.1
Title: Measure lengths indirectly and by iterating length units. (Major Cluster)
Type: Cluster
Subject: Mathematics - Archived
Grade: 1
Domain-Subdomain: Measurement and Data

Related Standards

This cluster includes the following benchmarks.

Related Access Points

This cluster includes the following access points.

Access Points

MAFS.1.MD.1.AP.1a

Order up to three objects based on a measurable attribute (height, weight, length).
MAFS.1.MD.1.AP.1b
Order three objects by length; compare the length of two objects indirectly by using a third object.
MAFS.1.MD.1.AP.aa
Use a ruler to measure the length of an object with exact whole units.

Related Resources

Vetted resources educators can use to teach the concepts and skills in this topic.

Formative Assessments

What Do These Marks Mean?:

Students are asked to explain what the marks on a ruler represent and how to use a ruler to measure length.

Type: Formative Assessment

Measuring Michael’s Toy Car - 2:

Students are asked to consider the zero point (origin) and end point when measuring the length of objects to the nearest inch.

Type: Formative Assessment

Measuring Michael’s Toy Car - 1:

Students are asked to explain a method for measuring length and to identify an appropriate tool.

Type: Formative Assessment

What’s The Length of the Third Set?:

Students compare the lengths of two cube trains indirectly by using a third cube train.

Type: Formative Assessment

The Missing Pencil:

Students are asked to indirectly compare the lengths of three pencils based on the known lengths of two of the pencils.

Type: Formative Assessment

Longest to Shortest Cubes:

Students put three trains (sets of joined cubes) in order from longest to shortest.

Type: Formative Assessment

Line Lengths:

Students are asked determine which line is longer using cubes, string, a pencil, a ruler, or another measuring strategy.

Type: Formative Assessment

Comparing Widths and Heights of Books:

Students are asked to place three books in order from least to greatest bottom edge length and least to greatest side edge length.

Type: Formative Assessment

Lesson Plans

Inch by Inch:

In this lesson students will be able to recognize the ruler as a tool to measure length, and understand the use of the beginning and end points when measuring the length of an item. Students will need to measure Bubble Tape gum so that everyone is able to have a piece. This lesson addresses part a and b of the standard.

Type: Lesson Plan

Measuring with Inches:

In this engaging introductory lesson to measuring with a ruler, students will learn that a ruler is a tool to measure in inches. They will be moving around the room to measure classroom objects to gather a concrete idea how to measure with a ruler and that they need to start with zero.

Type: Lesson Plan

Totally Wholly Lengths:

In this lesson students will measure the lengths of various items by placing centimeter- or inch-length manipulatives end-to-end and counting them.

Type: Lesson Plan

Thrice is Nice?:

In this lesson, students will directly compare and order the length of three flowers and discuss the comparisons using comparison language.

Type: Lesson Plan

What is in the Size of a Foot?:

This lesson will allow students to compare and order the length of objects by using an item close to them... their feet! They will explore the length of their feet compared to the lengths of the feet of others in their groups. Students will then make statements to describe the comparison of the length of their feet, and other objects, using comparison language such as shorter, shortest, longer, and longest.

Type: Lesson Plan

Beach Measurements:

The students will read about children playing at the beach. These children want to know how tall their sand castle is and use some very creative ways to find the height. Students will follow the same idea and have the opportunity to use beach equipment to do the same. A fun and engaging lesson on non-standard measurement.

Type: Lesson Plan

How Does Your Garden Grow?:

In this lesson, students will help create an interactive bulletin board by measuring the height of a paper flower using connecting cubes and then directly comparing the height of their flower to the height of two others. Then students will "plant" their flowers in flowerpots on the bulletin board in order from shortest to tallest, so that other class gardeners will have the chance to see how they “grow”!

Type: Lesson Plan

Original Student Tutorial

Zoo School:

Explore the zoo and learn how to order and compare objects by length and height in this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Problem-Solving Tasks

Measure Me!:

The purpose of this task is for students to measure something that interests them (namely themselves) by laying multiple copies of a shorter object that represents the length unit end to end. This task provides students an opportunity to discuss the need to be careful when measuring as it is very likely that some of them will get incorrect comparisons of their leg length with their partner's leg length.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

How Long:

The purpose of this task is to help students learn how to take measurements.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Teaching Ideas

Arctic Paradise Measurement:

In this activity, students use hands-on manipulatives to find the length and height of different arctic pictures using a nonstandard measurement unit: snowflakes. Students then use their data and order objects by length and height.

Type: Teaching Idea

Rough Rubbin' Sharks-SeaWorld Classroom Activity:

In this activity, students gain an understanding of sharks' rough, textured skin through artwork. They demonstrate knowledge of a shark's ecosystem. Students will also have the opportunity to measure/estimate different sharks using objects and rulers.

Type: Teaching Idea

How Big Am I-SeaWorld Classroom Activity:

In this activity, given various tools for measurement, students will be able to measure length. They will compare various units of measurement.

Type: Teaching Idea

How Big is a Blue-SeaWorld Classroom Activity:

In this activity, given pictures of whales, the student will sort the whales by size. Given a rope marked with several whale lengths, the student will compare the lengths of these whales.

Type: Teaching Idea

Measuring with Paperclips:

This site features 20 images that give students practice measuring the height and width of various pictures with paperclips. The site opens as a PDF and the images are ready to print. Each sheet contains a spot for students to write in their measurement of the common objects.

Type: Teaching Idea

Student Resources

Vetted resources students can use to learn the concepts and skills in this topic.

Original Student Tutorial

Zoo School:

Explore the zoo and learn how to order and compare objects by length and height in this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Problem-Solving Tasks

Measure Me!:

The purpose of this task is for students to measure something that interests them (namely themselves) by laying multiple copies of a shorter object that represents the length unit end to end. This task provides students an opportunity to discuss the need to be careful when measuring as it is very likely that some of them will get incorrect comparisons of their leg length with their partner's leg length.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

How Long:

The purpose of this task is to help students learn how to take measurements.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Parent Resources

Vetted resources caregivers can use to help students learn the concepts and skills in this topic.

Problem-Solving Tasks

Measure Me!:

The purpose of this task is for students to measure something that interests them (namely themselves) by laying multiple copies of a shorter object that represents the length unit end to end. This task provides students an opportunity to discuss the need to be careful when measuring as it is very likely that some of them will get incorrect comparisons of their leg length with their partner's leg length.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

How Long:

The purpose of this task is to help students learn how to take measurements.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Teaching Idea

Rough Rubbin' Sharks-SeaWorld Classroom Activity:

In this activity, students gain an understanding of sharks' rough, textured skin through artwork. They demonstrate knowledge of a shark's ecosystem. Students will also have the opportunity to measure/estimate different sharks using objects and rulers.

Type: Teaching Idea