Lesson 2

Measure with Standard Units: Short Lengths

Est. Class Sessions: 1–2
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Mathematical Standards

2.NBT.A
Understand place value. (2.NBT.A.4)
2.MD.A
Measure and estimate lengths in standard units. (2.MD.A.1, 2.MD.A.2, 2.MD.A.3)

Standards for Mathematical Practice

MP2.
Reason quantitatively.
MP3.
Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.
MP4.
Model with mathematics.
MP5.
Use appropriate tools strategically.
MP6.
Attend to precision.
MP7.
Look for and make use of structure.

Students practice measuring the length of objects using inches and centimeters. Students compare measurements to examine the relationship between the size of a unit and the number of units in a measure. They practice using good measurement techniques.

Content in this Lesson

  • Using words and symbols (e.g., <, >, =) to show comparisons of quantities (e.g., lengths) [E1].
  • Using and applying place value concepts and comparative language to compare and order lengths (e.g., shorter, longer, shortest, longest) [E2].
  • Solving word problems (e.g., compare) involving length [E3].
  • Recognizing that the measure of a length is dependent on the size of the unit of measure (e.g., a pencil is 6 inches or 15 centimeters) [E4].
  • Estimating length using standard units (e.g., centimeters, inches) [E5].
  • Measuring length using standard (e.g., centimeters, inches) units [E6].
  • Using labels to show what numbers mean [MPE6].

Daily Practice and Problems E–F

E. Trading Cents

F. Animals

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Materials for Students

Daily Practice and Problems Lesson Homework Assessment

Student Book

 Student Activity Book

Teacher Resources

 Teacher Guide - digital

Supplies for Students

2 toy animals. See Materials Preparation.
12-inch ruler. See Materials Preparation.
centimeter ruler. See Materials Preparation.
measuring tape, optional
4 self-adhesive notes (one for each toy animal), optional

Materials for the Teacher

Display of Measure Lines (Student Activity Book) Pages 181–182
Display of Question 4 on Snakes (Student Activity Book) Page 188
Unit 4 Assessment Record
Math Facts Class Record
Measurement Advice chart from Lesson 1
2 toy animals. See Materials Preparation.
two 12-inch rulers. See Materials Preparation.
two centimeter rulers. See Materials Preparation.
chart paper

Materials Preparation

Gather Toy Animals. Gather two toy animals for each student. The Calling All Animals Homework Master from Lesson 1 should have been sent home to assist with the gathering of toy animals. One animal should be taller than a sheet of paper and the other shorter. You will need two toy animals for demonstration purposes.

Gather Rulers. Students will need a ruler calibrated in centimeters and a ruler calibrated in inches. These rulers often come together. One side of the ruler is a 12-inch ruler and the other side is a 30-centimeter ruler.

Make a "How Long" Display. Identify a display space that is large enough to collect a few examples of distances that measure 1 inch, 1 centimeter, 1 meter, 1 yard, and 1 foot. Title the display "How Long." Draw a heavy line with end points that shows each unit of measure. Leave enough room around each unit to collect the names of and examples of distances that measure each unit.

Assessment in this Lesson

Assessment Expectation Assessed Math Practices Expectation Assessed
Measure Toy Animals
Check-In: Questions 7–8
with Feedback Box
Student Activity Book
Pages 185–186
E1. 
Use words and symbols (e.g., <, >, =) to show comparisons of quantities (e.g., lengths).
E3. 
Solve word problems (e.g., compare) involving length.
E4. 
Recognize that the measure of a length is dependent on the size of the unit of measure (e.g., a pencil is 6 inches or 15 centimeters).
E6. 
Measure length using nonstandard (palms, footprints) and standard (centimeters, meters, inches, feet, yards) units.
MPE6. 
Use labels. I use labels to show what numbers mean.
DPP Item E
Trading Cents
Teacher Guide - digital
E11. 
Use math fact strategies to add (direct modeling, counting strategies, reasoning from known facts) for the facts in Group E (5 + 7, 8 + 4, 8 + 5, 9 + 3, 9 + 4, 9 + 5, 10 + 1, 10 + 2, 10 + 3).