Developing Measurement Concepts Mathematics Content Connections John Van de Walle

Number Early measurement activities are a very meaningful context for counting. Measurement of important objects in the familiar environment connects ideas of number to the real world, enhancing number sense.

Place Value Multiples of ten are profitably used by young children in counting nonstandard measures such as the height of the door in terms of connecting cubes. The metric system of measurement is built on the base-ten system of numeration. An understanding of each topic enhances the use of and understanding of the other.

Algebra Functions are used to study and describe the relationships between various phenomena, especially things that are measured. Measurement formulas are themselves functions Measurement provided data from which generalisations and functional relationships can be derived.

Fractions The need for increased precision leads to fractional parts of units.

Proportional Reasoning The use of benchmarks in estimating measures (e.g., a door is about a metre wide so the room is about seven doors ) promotes multiplicative thinking, a fundamental aspect of proportional reasoning. Measures are used in scale drawings Proportions are used to find unknown measures of similar figures.

Geometry The development and understanding of perimeter, area, and volume formulas require an understanding of the shapes and relationships involved. Measures help to describe shapes and angular measures play a significant role in the properties of shapes.

Data Statistics and graphs are used to describe our world and help us answer questions about it. Often this description is in terms of measures. Graphing and measurement are easily blended into the same units or activities.

To measure something means that the attribute being measured is “filled” or “covered” or “matched” with a unit of measure with the same attribute.

To measure something we perform three steps: Decide on the attribute to be measured. Select a unit that has that attribute. Compare the units, by filling, covering, matching or using some other method with the attribute of the object being measured. The number of units required to match the object is the measure.

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