Math Flash Measurement Benchmarks
Created by: Brandie Cain-Heard
Customary System The customary system is another system of measurement used in the United States to describe how long, how heavy, or how big something is. Inch, foot, yard, and mile are units for measuring length. Ounces, cup, pint, quart, and gallon are units for measuring capacity. Ounces, pound, and ton are units for measuring weight.
Metric System The metric system is another system of measurement used around the world to describe length, volume, or the mass of something.
Millimeter, centimeter, meter and kilometer are units for measuring length. Milliliter and liter are units for measuring volume. Gram and kilogram are units for measuring mass.
Customary Linear Measures Inch, foot, yard, and mile are units for measuring length. When you measure length, you need to first decide which unit to use.
inch (in.)
12 inches (in) = 1 foot (ft)
foot (ft)
3 feet = 1 yard (yd)
yard (yd)
36 inches (in) = 1 yard (yd)
mile (mi)
5280 feet = 1 mile (mi)
How long is an inch?
A quarter is about an inch wide
1 inch
How long is a foot?
About the length of a clipboard
1 foot
How long is a yard?
About the width of a door
1 yard
How long is a mile?
Four times around a track
Metric Linear Measures Millimeter, centimeter, meter and kilometer are units for measuring length. When you measure length, you need to first decide which unit to use.
1 millimeter
.001 meter
1 centimeter
.01 meter
1 meter
100 centimeters
1 kilometer
1,000 meters
How large is a millimeter?
The width of a pin
How large is a centimeter?
The width of the top of your finger
How large is a meter?
About the length of a baseball bat
How large is a kilometer? A kilometer is about the length of 100 school buses lined up end to end.
x 100
Customary Capacity Teaspoon, tablespoon, ounces, cup, pint, quart and gallon are units for measuring length. When you measure capacity, you need to first decide which unit to use.
4 quarts = 1 gallon 2 quarts = 1/2 gallon 2 pints = 1 quart 2 cups = 1 pint 8 fl oz = 1 cup 1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons
How much is a cup?
A measuring cup
How much is a pint?
The size of milk you get at lunch
How much is a quart?
One quart of milk
How much is a gallon?
A gallon of milk
Metric Volume Milliliter and liter are units for measuring volume. When you measure volume, you need to first decide which unit to use.
The milliliter (mL) is a metric unit used to measure the capacities of small containers. The liter (L) is equal to 1,000 mL, so it is used to measure the capacities of larger containers.
How large is a milliliter?
About a drop of liquid
How large is a liter?
A bottle of water
Customary Weight Ounces, pound and ton are units for measuring weight. When you measure weight, you need to first decide which unit to use.
1 ounce 1 pound
16 ounces
1 ton
2,000 pounds
How heavy is an ounce?
A slice of bread weighs about 1 ounce
How heavy is a pound?
A loaf of bread weighs about 1 pound
How heavy is a ton?
A car weighs about 1 ton
Metric Mass Gram and kilogram are units for measuring mass. When you measure mass, you need to first decide which unit to use.
1 gram 1 kilogram
1,000 grams
How heavy is a gram?
A paper clip weighs about 1 gram
How heavy is a kilogram?
A text book weighs about 1 kilogram
Area is the number of square units needed to cover a flat surface. Some Metric Units for measuring area are square centimeter, square decimeter, or square meter. Find the area of the a figure by counting the shaded squares.
1 square unit = 6 square cm
Sometimes you need to count half squares to find the area of a figure. 1 whole square + 2 half squares 2 half squares = 1 whole square 1 + 1 = 2 square units
Sometimes you need to estimate the area of a figure. 4 whole squares + 4 almost whole squares + 4 about half squares 4 half squares = 2 whole squares 4 + 4 + 2 = about 10 square units
Temperature The customary unit for measuring temperature is degrees Fahrenheit (°F) The metric unit for measuring temperature is degrees Celsius (°C) Water freezes at 32°F, or 0°C. Water boils at 212°F, or 100°C. Room temperature is about 72°F, or 22°C.
The greater the temperature, the warmer it is. Temperature can be compared by using subtraction.
Exploring Time Time is measured in different units. 1 minute (min) = 60 seconds 1 hour (hr) = 60 minutes 1 day (d) = 24 hours 1 week (wk) = 7 days 1 month (mo) = about 4 weeks 1 year (yr) = 12 months 1 year = 365 days 1 leap year = 366 days 1 decade = 10 years 1 century = 100 years
One Way Another Way Count forward on a clock. Count backwards on a clock. 24 hours = 1 day Use A.M. for times beginning at 12:00 Use P.M. for times beginning at 12:00 noon midnight and and before 12:00 midnight. before 12:00 noon
Elapsed time - is the time that passes from the start to the end of an activity.
Step 1 Count the hours 7:10 - 10:55 3 hours (7:10 to 10:10)
Steps to finding elapsed time Step 2 Count the minutes 10:10 - 10:55 45 minutes
Write the elapsed time 3 hours and 45 minutes
Words to Know Kilo – is a metric prefix meaning one thousand. It takes one thousand meters to make a kilometer. Centi – is a metric prefix meaning one-hundredth. It takes one hundred centimeters to make one meter. Milli - is a metric prefix meaning one-thousandth. It takes one thousand millimeters to make one meter.
Conversions How many inches are in 4 feet?
To change from a larger unit of length to a smaller unit of length, multiply. 4 feet = ___ inches Think: 1 ft = 12 inches 4 x 12 = 48 4 feet = 48 inches
How many yards are in 18 feet?
To change from a smaller unit of length to a larger unit of length, divide. 18 feet = ___ yards Think: 3 ft = 1 yd 18 divided by 3 = 6 18 feet = 6 yards