Time-travel maths quest: measurement

Quick answer

You can use time-travel to explore how people measured things in the past, and learn about comparing lengths, weights, capacities, and temperatures using different units.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to compare and measure lengths, weights, capacities, and temperatures using different units and tools, and understand how measurement has changed over time.

• You can tell the time on an analogue clock and read digital times
• You can compare lengths using metres, centimetres, and millimetres
• You can measure weight using grams and kilograms
• You can compare temperatures using degrees Celsius

Why this matters

Measurement is everywhere! When you play football, you measure distances. When you cook, you measure ingredients. When you go to school, you measure time. Understanding how we measure things helps you make sense of the world around you. In a time-travel quest, you’ll see how ancient people used different methods to measure things, and how these ideas connect to the tools we use today.

How it works

Measurement is about comparing things to a standard unit. For example, if you want to know how tall you are, you might use a ruler that measures in centimetres. If you want to know how heavy something is, you might use a scale that measures in grams. In our time-travel quest, we’ll use different measurement tools and units from different time periods to compare things.

Examples you can see

Imagine you are on a time-travel adventure and visit Ancient Egypt. There, people used their hands and feet to measure things. Let’s say you want to measure a table. You might say, “This table is about 3 hand-widths long.” But this isn’t very accurate because everyone has different-sized hands!

Next, you visit Ancient Rome. Romans used a unit called a “palm” to measure things. A palm is about 7.5 centimetres. So if a Roman says something is 4 palms long, it is 30 centimetres long (4 x 7.5 = 30).

Now, you travel to the 18th century. People used things like “cubits” (the length from elbow to fingertip) and “feet” (the length of a human foot). A cubit is about 50 centimetres. So if someone says something is 2 cubits long, it is 100 centimetres long.

Finally, you land in the present day. You have a ruler that measures in centimetres and a scale that measures in grams. You can measure a pencil that is 15 centimetres long, or a bag of sugar that weighs 1 kilogram (1000 grams).

Try it as a mini adventure

Let’s go on a time-travel measurement quest!

1. Time Period: Ancient Egypt
2. Task: Measure your desk using hand-widths
3. Step 1: Place your hand flat on the desk
4. Step 2: Mark where your hand ends
5. Step 3: Move your hand to the mark and repeat
6. Step 4: Count how many hand-widths it takes to cover the desk
7. Step 5: Try with a friend and compare your results

Next Stop: Ancient Rome

1. Time Period: Ancient Rome
2. Task: Measure a book using palms
3. Step 1: Place your palm on the book
4. Step 2: Mark where your palm ends
5. Step 3: Move your palm to the mark and repeat
6. Step 4: Count how many palms it takes to cover the book
7. Step 5: Convert to centimetres (1 palm = 7.5 cm)

Final Stop: Present Day

1. Time Period: Present Day
2. Task: Measure a jug of water
3. Step 1: Fill a jug with water
4. Step 2: Use a measuring cup to find the volume
5. Step 3: Record how many millilitres or litres
6. Step 4: Compare with a friend’s jug
7. Step 5: Calculate the difference

Common mistakes

• Mistake: Confusing centimetres and millimetres
• Why it happens: Both are small units, and 1 cm = 10 mm
• Fix: Use a ruler and count the small lines to see that 10 mm = 1 cm

• Mistake: Mixing up grams and kilograms
• Why it happens: Both measure weight, but 1 kg = 1000 g
• Fix: Remember that 1 kg is like 1000 small paperclips

• Mistake: Forgetting to check the unit when reading a scale
• Why it happens: Kids often look at the number but not the unit
• Fix: Always ask, “Is this in grams or kilograms?”

Parent and carer guide

As a parent or carer, you can help by:

• Letting your child measure things around the house using rulers, scales, and measuring cups
• Encouraging them to compare measurements with others
• Using real-life situations to talk about measurement, such as cooking or shopping
• Playing a game where you guess measurements before checking
• Reinforcing the idea that measurement helps us solve problems in daily life

Remember: Don’t rush! Let your child explore and make mistakes. It’s part of learning.

Practice questions

1. How many millimetres are in 5 centimetres?
2. How many grams are in 2 kilograms?
3. If a jug holds 1500 millilitres, how many litres is that?
4. What is 3 times 100 millilitres?
5. How many centimetres are in 3 metres?

Answers:

1. 50 mm
2. 2000 g
3. 1.5 litres
4. 300 ml
5. 300 cm

FAQ

How do I know which unit to use for measuring something?

Think about the size of the thing you're measuring. If it's small, use millimetres or grams. If it's big, use centimetres or kilograms.

Why do we use different units for measuring things?

Different units help us measure things more accurately. For example, a millimetre is better for small things like a pencil, while a kilometre is better for long distances like a journey.

Can I use my hand to measure things?

Yes, but it's not very accurate because everyone's hands are different sizes. It's better to use a ruler or a scale.

What are some ancient ways of measuring things?

People used body parts like feet, hands, and arms. They also used natural objects like stones or sticks.

How can I practice measuring at home?

Measure your toys, books, or food. Try measuring how much juice is in a cup or how tall you are with a tape measure.