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Measurement is a way to find out how long, heavy, or full something is, and to tell the time. We measure things to compare them and to know their size, weight, capacity or time.
There are different kinds of measurement:
When we measure, we compare an object with a unit (for example, how many centimetres long is a pencil?). At first children often use non‑standard units (like paper clips or blocks) to learn the idea of measuring. Later they learn standard units so everyone understands the same size.
Tools and examples: ruler/tape (length), weighing scale (weight), measuring cup (capacity), clock or calendar (time). Measuring helps us in real life: cooking, buying things, playing sports, or telling when school starts.
What are length and height?
Length is how long something is from one end to the other (usually measured along a horizontal direction). Height is how tall something is from bottom to top (a vertical measurement). Both tell us the distance between two points.
Units and tools
How to measure
Tips
What is weight? Weight tells us how heavy or light an object is. When we say an object is heavy, it has more weight; when it is light, it has less weight.
How do we find weight? We use a weighing scale or a balance (pan balance) to measure or compare weight. On a balance, the side that goes down is heavier. A weighing scale gives a number that tells the weight.
Units of weight — For Class 1 we use grams (g) and kilograms (kg). Small things are measured in grams and larger things in kilograms.
Simple rules — 1 kilogram (1 kg) = 1000 grams (1000 g). We compare objects by putting them on two pans of a balance: the heavier object makes its pan go down.
What is Capacity?
Capacity tells us how much a container can hold. It is the amount of liquid (like water, milk) or small things (like sand, beads) that can fit inside a bottle, cup, jug, bucket, etc.
Simple ideas for Class 1
Units (simple introduction)
How to explore
What is a day? A day is one full turn of the Earth. It has morning, afternoon and night. We use days to plan what we do.
Days of the week — There are seven days in a week:
Key ideas for Class 1:
How to use this knowledge: We read a small calendar or a weekly chart to find what day an event will happen. We can mark events (like market day, library day) on a weekly strip so children learn which day each event happens.
Simple classroom activities: Ask children: “If today is Monday, what is tomorrow?” or “If yesterday was Friday, what is today?” Use songs and a weekly chart to practice the order of days.
What is Comparing?
Comparing means looking at two or more things to find out which is bigger, smaller, longer, shorter, heavier, lighter, more or less. We use words like longer, shorter, taller, smaller, heavier, lighter, more, less and symbols like > (greater than), < (less than) and = (equal to).
What is Ordering?
Ordering means arranging objects or numbers from smallest to largest or largest to smallest. We say ascending order (least to greatest) and descending order (greatest to least).
How to compare (simple steps for Class 1):
Useful tips and vocabulary
Example of using numbers
If three sticks have lengths 5 cm, 8 cm and 3 cm, we can order them: ascending (3 cm, 5 cm, 8 cm) and descending (8 cm, 5 cm, 3 cm).
What are non-standard units? Non-standard units are everyday objects used to measure length, area, mass or capacity instead of standard units like centimetres or litres. Examples include paper clips, cubes, hand-spans, spoons or empty cups.
How to measure using non-standard units (simple steps):
Examples of measurements: measure the length of a pencil using blocks, the height of a book using hand-spans, the area of a table using square tiles, the capacity of a cup using small medicine cups, or compare mass by seeing how many identical toy cars balance a toy boat on a simple balance.
Key ideas for young learners:
What is measuring? Measuring means finding out how long, heavy or how much something can hold. In Class 1 we learn to measure using simple tools and by comparing objects.
Simple measuring tools:
How to use a ruler (easy steps):
Using non‑standard units: Sometimes we count how many paper clips or blocks long an object is. This helps children understand measurement ideas before learning centimetres and metres.
Using a pan balance: Put one object on each side. The side that goes down is heavier. If both sides are level, the objects weigh the same.
Capacity words: Full, half, empty. Use a cup or spoon to show how much a container holds.
Everyday safety and tips: Measure on a flat surface, keep the ruler straight, and be careful with sharp edges of rulers. Ask an adult for help when using tape near edges or when measuring tall items.
What it means: Practical Activities and Recording teaches young learners how to measure things and note down what they find. Children learn by doing simple, hands-on measuring using non‑standard units (like hand spans or blocks) and then standard units (like centimetres, metres, grams, millilitres).
Steps for a practical activity:
Recording and displaying results: For Class 1, use easy methods: a two‑column table (Object | Measurement), tally marks, pictographs (small pictures represent 1 item each), or a simple bar chart with colorful bars. Recording teaches accuracy, comparison and helps children read and make sense of numbers.
Teaching tips: