Measuring Length with Everyday Objects

MatholiaChannel

This educational video introduces young learners to the concept of measuring length using non-standard units. Through clear visual demonstrations, the video guides students in measuring two common objects: a red stapler and a wide picture frame. The narrator models the process of lining up measuring tools—such as interlocking cubes, paperclips, hand spans, and pencils—end-to-end to determine the total length of each object. Key themes explored include counting, unit iteration, and the concept of approximation using the word "about." The video implicitly introduces the relationship between unit size and measurement value by showing how the same object results in different measurements depending on the tool used (e.g., the stapler is 9 cubes long but only 5 paperclips long). Ideally suited for early elementary classrooms, this video serves as a perfect hook for lessons on measurement and data. It provides a visual model for "no gaps and no overlaps," a critical rule in measurement standards. Teachers can use this resource to spark discussions about why we measure, how to line up tools correctly, and why using different-sized objects results in different measurements.