Measurement & Data
GradesGrade 2Measurement & DataStandard Units: Inches, Feet, cm, Meters

Standard Units: Inches, Feet, cm, Meters

📏 Measurement & Data
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Standard Units: Inches, Feet, cm, Meters

Standard units let everyone measure the same way — no more confusion!

STANDARD UNITS are agreed-upon measurements that everyone uses. In the US Customary system, we use inches (in) and feet (ft). In the metric system, we use centimeters (cm) and meters (m). Rulers and tape measures use these units to give exact measurements.

US Customary

Inch (in) — about as wide as your thumb 👍Foot (ft) — 12 inches (length of a 30cm ruler)1 foot = 12 inches

Metric

Centimeter (cm) — about as wide as a fingernail 💅Meter (m) — about the height of a door 🚪1 meter = 100 centimeters

Both systems measure the same lengths — just with different unit sizes!

📏Everyday length examples
About 1 inch:   Width of a thumb 👍
About 1 foot:   Length of a school ruler 📏
About 1 cm:     Width of a small button 🔘
About 1 meter:  Height of a kitchen counter 🍳

A classroom whiteboard is about 3 meters wide!

How to use a ruler:

1Place the 0 mark at the very start of the object
2Keep the ruler straight along the edge
3Read the number where the object ends
4Include the unit in your answer: "7 cm" or "3 inches"
✏️ Try It!

About how long is a real school desk? Choose the most reasonable measurement.

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Remember This!

Use your body as a ruler! Your pinky finger is about 1 cm wide. Your foot (with shoe!) is close to 1 foot. Your outstretched arms span about 1 meter!

Take Quiz 📝 — 25 Questions