In this unit, students’ observations and activities expand their awareness of comparing and measuring. From their experiences, they are introduced to the following concepts, skills, and attitudes.

• Comparing involves observing similarities and differences.
• One way to make comparisons is by matching.
• Using beginning and ending points and placing units end to end are important factors when measuring.
• Nonstandard units of measure produce varying results.
• Standard units of measure produce more consistent results than nonstandard units and make it possible to share information.
• Different units and tools can be used to measure objects.
• Long tools make it easier to measure long objects.
• A common starting line is required to make fair comparisons.

Skills

• Observing similarities and differences among objects.
• Describing similarities and differences among objects.
• Placing objects in serial order on the basis of height or length.
• Communicating observations, ideas, and questions through discussion, drawing, and writing.
• Organizing information on representational graphs and charts.
• Making predictions about the relative lengths and sizes of objects.
• Using standard and nonstandard units of measure.
• Using groups of tens to quantify large numbers of units.
• Measuring using beginning and ending points.
• Interpreting results of measurements.

Attitudes

• Developing an awareness of self and others by comparing height, length of arms and legs, and body cutouts.
• Developing an appreciation of the usefulness of measuring in our daily lives.
• Becoming comfortable using a variety of measuring tools and units of measure.
• Recognizing the importance of developing strategies for counting large numbers.
• Appreciating the importance of organizing information on graphs and charts.