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Measure Objects and Record Data

Students measure the lengths of several objects (or repeated measurements of the same object) to the nearest whole unit and record the measurements in an organized list or table. This prepares students to display data visually.

How it is taught

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A measurement is a length plus the unit you used.

A line plot stacks an X for each length you recorded.

straw A0246810instraw B0246810instraw C0246810instraw D0246810instraw E0246810instraw F0246810in56789straw lengths

Read it: Read the X's on a line plot

5 ribbons were measured in whole inches. Each X is 1 ribbon. 3 X's stand above 4.

  1. Find a length on the line.
  2. Count the X's above it: 1 X is 1 ribbon.
  3. The tallest stack is the most common length: 4 inches.

Each X stands for 1 thing that was measured, so the X's count the things.

X's that stack up mean that several things had the same length.

Counting every X tells how many things were measured in all: 5 ribbons.

1 X for each thing measured. Count the X's to read the plot.

Counting the numbers on the line instead of the X's above them.

The numbers are lengths. Count the X's: 5 ribbons in all.

Ribbons were measured: 1 is 7 inches long, 3 are 8 inches long and 2 are 9 inches long. How many ribbons were measured in all? — 6. On a line plot, each ribbon is 1 X: 1 + 3 + 2 is 6.

Measure 3 objects in centimeters

Today we'll measure three classroom objects and write down their lengths in a chart.

Here's our centimeter ruler, and an empty chart to fill in. We'll line each object up at the zero mark.

First, the pencil. We place one end right at zero.

Now read where it ends — fifteen. The pencil is fifteen centimeters long.

Write that in the chart: pencil, fifteen centimeters.

Next, the crayon. Line it up at zero again.

It reaches the eight mark, so the crayon is eight centimeters.

Add it to the chart: crayon, eight centimeters.

Last one — the eraser. Zero end first.

Just five centimeters long.

Measure & RecordPencil, crayon, eraser — how long is each?Measure with a ruler, then write it down.020 cmcentimeter rulerpencil15 cmcrayon8 cmeraser5 cmLength ChartObjectLengthpencil15 cmcrayon8 cmeraser5 cmDATA RECORDED3 lengthsready to graph
Grade 2 · Build a length chart for three classroom objects

Eraser, five centimeters. Our chart is full!

All three lengths are organized in one place, ready to compare or graph.

What you see

While they climb, your page writes one true line to ask about tonight, and a short note each Sunday.

MayaGrade 3 · Mathematics
Did you know?

A chessboard has 64 squares — share them out between the 8 rows and each row holds exactly 8.

Today’s goal
1 star — one skill mastered, every rung of its ladder climbed
Climbing now
Divide within 100

An example student.

MayaGrade 3 · Mathematics

Maya earned 2 stars this week — Interpret multiplication as equal groups, which took 6 answers over 3 days before its star landed 3 days ago and Multiply by 6, 7, 8 and 9. Next up: Divide within 100.

An example week.

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