Measurement Teaching Resources
Is your math class ready to dive into length measurement, measuring objects, and more measurement practice? Say hello to printable measurement worksheets, games, and digital activities created by teachers for elementary teachers!
This collection of teaching resources was created by our expert math teachers to help students meet Common Core and state-level standards. Each printable and digital download has undergone a rigorous review by the teachers on the Teach Starter team to ensure they’re student-ready — so you can cut down on lesson planning time!
New to teaching this part of the math curriculum? Our teacher team knows what it’s like to suddenly teach a brand-new grade level, so we’ve put together a quick guide to teaching measurement!
What Are the 4 steps of Teaching and Learning Measurement?
Elementary students have to learn a long list of measurement concepts during their stint in elementary school, including:
- length
- liquid volume
- elapsed time
- mass (weight)
- area
- volume of three-dimensional figures
The good news for teachers: Most measurement concepts have very real-world applications for students. That means there's a whole world of ways to get students excited about reading a ruler or tape measure or weighing heavy objects on a scale.
But before you can get there, let's start with the basic steps to work through when you're teaching students how to measure ... well ... anything!
- Direct comparison — One of the earliest steps of learning measurement is learning the attributes that are being measured. For example, students need to learn what length is if they're ever going to measure it. That's where direct comparison (and step 2, indirect comparison), come in. If you put 2 objects side by side, students can directly compare which is longer and which is shorter and start to understand how to measure an object.
- Indirect comparison — What happens when you can't directly compare two objects? You can add a third as a reference point for indirect comparison, thereby increasing student understanding of the attribute being measured.
- Measuring with non-standard units or informal units — Just as students need to understand the attribute of measuring, they also need to understand the concept of the units we use to measure such as inches or pounds. Using non-standard units is the first step to teaching the concept of units, offering students the chance to work with different objects, counting how many of these "units" it takes to make up another. This is the fundamental base of measurement.
- Measuring with standard units — Finally, in the final step of teaching measurement, students move on to using the formal units of measurement and learn to use measurement instruments.
Why Is Teaching Measurement Important?
There are concrete uses for learning measurement that will surely spring to mind — from using a tape measure to measure a space in a home to weighing ingredients when baking to determining the capacity of a juice glass before pouring in the liquid. These are all means for quantifying our environment.
But the benefits of teaching students about measuring lines with a ruler or figuring out mass measurements from largest to smallest go well beyond the obvious. Learning to measure helps students develop spatial and number skills.
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How Much Does it Measure? Estimating Units Interactive (Mixed Units)
Estimate units of mass, volume, temperature, length, and more with an engaging, interactive measurement game.
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Selecting Units of Mass – Sorting Activity
A sorting activity to help students identify objects that should be measured in ounces, pounds, and tons.
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Number Talks for Teaching Volume (Task Cards)
Build understanding of volume in 5th or 6th grade with this set of 26 number talks task cards.
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Which Holds More? – Interactive PowerPoint
An interactive PowerPoint quiz that asks students to compare the capacity of various containers.
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Determining Elapsed Time-Word Problems Worksheet
Print an elapsed time word problems worksheet to provide students with practice measuring the passage of time.
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Which Is Heavier? – Interactive PowerPoint
An interactive PowerPoint quiz that asks students to compare the mass of various everyday objects.
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Converting Units of Capacity in the Metric System – Worksheet
A worksheet that focuses on converting units of capacity in the metric system.
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Clock Labels – 'Past' and 'To'
A template to display around your classroom clock that highlights 'past' and 'to' terminology.
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When Does It Happen? Worksheet
A cut and paste activity where students order familiar daily events.
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Heavy and Light Hands-on Activity
A fun, hands-on activity for students to compare the weight of various objects
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Introduction to Area Instructional Slide Deck
Introduce the concept of measuring the area of regular shapes with this 22-slide instructional slide deck.
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Customary Conversion Dominoes
A domino activity to practice customary conversions
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Capacity Math Investigation - Filling the Fish Tank
A mathematics investigation involving capacity, embedded in a real-world context.
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Volume Investigation - Creating the Land of Cubes
A mathematics investigation involving volume, embedded in a real-world context.
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Non-Standard Measurement Rulers
Use printable non-standard measuring rulers to introduce your little learners to the world of measurement.
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Comparing and Ordering Volume Worksheet
A worksheet that explores the concept of volume.
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Measuring Volume Worksheet
A worksheet to use when exploring the concept of volume.
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Measuring the Area of a Desktop - Worksheet
A worksheet to use when exploring the concept of measuring area with informal units.
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Marvin Measurement's Treasure Box - Whole Class Game
A whole class game that consolidates your students' knowledge of measurement concepts - in a fun way!
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Which Objects Have Capacity? - Worksheet
A worksheet to use when exploring the concept of capacity.
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Measuring, Comparing, and Ordering Capacity – Worksheet
A worksheet that explores the concept of capacity using informal units of measurement.
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Metric Conversion Dominoes
A domino activity to practice metric conversions.
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Mass Investigation - How Heavy Are the Objects in Your Classroom?
Explore the mass of objects in the classroom with this mass mathematics investigation embedded in a real-world context.
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Time Dominoes - Half, Quarter, and Hour Intervals
Practice telling time to the nearest hour, quarter hour, or half hour by matching 32 analog and digital clock dominoes.
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Time Dominoes - Five Minute Intervals
Practice telling time to the nearest 5 minutes by matching 32 analog and digital clock dominoes.
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Telling Time to the Hour and Half-Hour - Worksheet
Practice telling time to the half-hour with a fun set of printable Telling Time Worksheets for 1st grade.
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Telling Time to the Nearest 5 Minutes - Worksheet
A worksheet to practice telling time to the nearest 5 minutes.
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Time After Time Teaching Slides
Introduce your students to the history of the clock, time zones, and telling time with an interactive teaching presentation.
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Volume of 3D Objects Poster
A poster highlighting the formula for finding the volume of common 3D objects.
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Telling Time Worksheets - Quarter Hours
Tell and write time to the nearest quarter hour and half hour with printable telling time cut and paste worksheets.
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Clock Template
Let your students learn how to tell time in a hands-on way with this clock template.
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Measurement Classroom Decoration Pack
A pack of page borders and cut-out decorations for your classroom.
- Measurement Worksheets
- Measurement Games
- Measurement Posters
- Measurement Templates
- Measurement Projects
- Measurement for Pre-K
- Measurement for Kindergarten
- Measurement for 1st Grade
- Measurement for 2nd Grade
- Measurement for 3rd Grade
- Measurement for 4th Grade
- Measurement for 5th Grade
- Measurement for 6th Grade