Measurement

Measurement tells us how big, heavy, or long something is. We use tools like rulers, scales, and clocks to measure. Numbers help us share what we find. People measure things every day, like flour for cookies or water for a fish tank. Without measurement, building and cooking would be very hard.

Things We Measure

We can measure many things in our world. Length tells us how long something is. Weight tells us how heavy it is. Volume tells us how much space something fills. Time tells us how long something takes.

Units of Measurement

Units are the words we use with numbers when we measure. Inches, feet, and miles measure length in the United States. Most other countries use meters and kilometers. Pounds and kilograms measure weight. Cups and liters measure how much liquid is in a container.

Fun Facts

• The first rulers were made from parts of the body, like the length of a foot.
• A giraffe can be about 18 feet tall, as tall as a small house.
• Scientists measure very tiny things using a unit called a nanometer.

Did You Know?

A long time ago, a 'yard' was the distance from the king's nose to the tip of his finger.