Which is longer? Which is heavier? Today we measure and compare things.
Longer and shorter
To compare lengths, line things up at the same starting line. Then look at the other end.
✏️ pencil: ▬▬▬▬▬
🖍️ crayon: ▬▬▬
The pencil is longer. The crayon is shorter. With three things we can say longest and shortest.
Measuring with paper clips
We can measure with paper clips, hand-spans, blocks or footsteps. Put them end to end:
- in a straight line
- no gaps
- no overlaps
- then count them
A book is 7 paper clips long. A pencil is 5 paper clips long. The book is 2 clips longer.
Heavier and lighter
Big things are not always heavier! A big balloon is very light. A small stone can be heavy.
TRY ITMeasure it!
Choose a game. Then tap your answer.
Let’s practise
Try each one. Then tap Show answer to check.
1. A ribbon is 6 clips long. A string is 9 clips long. Which is longer?
Show answer
The string.
2. Why must we leave no gaps between the clips?
Show answer
Gaps would make us count too few clips, so the answer would be wrong.
3. A table is 8 hand-spans long. A chair is 4 hand-spans long. How many more spans is the table?
Show answer
4 more hand-spans.
4. Which is heavier: a coconut or a feather?
Show answer
A coconut.
5. On a balance, the left side goes down. Which side is heavier?
Show answer
The left side.
6. Which is lighter: a big pillow or a small brick?
Show answer
The big pillow.
Quick check
1. Put in order, shortest first: a bus, a pencil, a car.
Show answer
Pencil, car, bus.
2. Is a bigger thing always heavier?
Show answer
No. A balloon is big but light.
3. What do we call it when both sides of a balance are level?
Show answer
They are as heavy as each other (they balance).
Maths words
Say these words with a grown-up. Can you use each one in a sentence?
long · longer · longest · short · shorter · shortest · tall · tallest · as long as · hand-span · heavy · heavier · light · lighter · as heavy as · weigh · balance
Try it at home
- Measure your bed with hand-spans. Measure the table. Which is longer?
- Line up your shoes and your family’s shoes from shortest to longest.
- Hold a mango in one hand and a lime in the other. Which feels heavier? Check with a coat-hanger balance.
- Make a pattern with long and short straws: long, short, long, short …
For parents and teachers
After this lesson, your child should be able to:
- compare and order three or more objects by length (longest/shortest)
- measure length using paper clips, hand-spans or blocks laid end to end with no gaps and no overlaps
- compare masses using a balance and read pictures of balances
- explain that a big object is not always heavier
Rice or beans in two identical cups hanging from a coat hanger makes a good home-made balance.
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Attributions to media used in this post:
Balance scale IMGP9755.jpg – Nikodem Nijaki – CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
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