Reading Scaled Instruments
Match Units to What We Measure
Draw a line from each unit to what it measures.
Match Tools to What They Measure
Draw a line from each tool to what it measures.
Choose the Best Unit (Set A)
Circle the best unit to measure each item.
Length of a pencil
Mass of a watermelon
Water in a swimming pool
Temperature of a hot drink
Choose the Best Unit (Set B)
Circle the best unit.
Height of a door
Mass of a feather
Water in a teaspoon
Distance from Sydney to Melbourne
Choose the Best Unit (Set C)
Circle the best unit.
Length of an ant
Mass of a car
Water in a fish tank
Width of your thumb
Sort: Length Units
Sort each item by which unit you would use to measure it.
Sort: Mass Units
Sort each item by which unit you would use.
Reading a Ruler (Set A)
Circle the correct reading.
Arrow points to the 5th mark on a cm ruler
Arrow points halfway between 7 cm and 8 cm
Arrow points to the 12th mark on a cm ruler
Reading a Thermometer (Set A)
Circle the correct temperature reading.
Halfway between 20°C and 30°C
3 marks past 10°C (each mark = 2°C)
2 marks past 30°C (each mark = 5°C)
Reading a Thermometer (Set B)
Circle the correct reading.
1 mark past 0°C (each mark = 1°C)
Halfway between 30°C and 40°C
4 marks past 20°C (each mark = 2°C)
Reading Kitchen Scales (Set A)
Circle the correct mass reading.
Scales show halfway between 200 g and 300 g
Scales show 3 marks past 1 kg (each mark = 100 g)
Scales show 1 mark past 500 g (each mark = 50 g)
Reading Kitchen Scales (Set B)
Circle the correct reading.
Scales show 2 marks past 0 g (each mark = 100 g)
Scales show halfway between 1 kg and 2 kg
Scales show 4 marks past 500 g (each mark = 25 g)
Reading a Ruler (Set C)
Circle the correct length.
Arrow points to 7 cm on a ruler
Arrow points halfway between 12 cm and 13 cm
Arrow points to the 3rd mark past 20 cm (marks every 5 mm)
Arrow points to 45 mm on a ruler
Reading a Ruler (Set D)
Circle the correct reading.
Arrow points to 15 cm
Arrow halfway between 8 cm and 9 cm
Object ends at the 95 mm mark
Arrow at the 4th mark past 10 cm (each mark = 2 mm)
Reading a Thermometer (Set C)
Circle the correct temperature.
3 marks past 10°C (each mark = 2°C)
Halfway between 20°C and 30°C
2 marks below 0°C (each mark = 1°C)
1 mark past 36°C (each mark = 0.5°C)
Reading Kitchen Scales (Set C)
Circle the correct mass.
Needle points to the 2nd mark past 400 g (each mark = 50 g)
Needle halfway between 2 kg and 3 kg
Needle at the 3rd mark past 0 g (each mark = 200 g)
Needle shows 750 g
Match Instruments to What They Measure
Draw a line from each instrument to what it measures.
Match Readings to Instruments
Draw a line from each reading to the instrument that shows it.
Sort by Unit of Measurement
Sort each measurement into the correct column.
Sort Readings: Exact or Approximate?
Are these readings exact or approximate?
Scale Intervals (Set A)
The total is the reading. PartA is the last labelled mark, partB is the extra.
Scale Intervals (Set B)
Find the missing number.
Estimate and Measure
Estimate each measurement, then measure with the correct instrument.
Length of your pencil: Estimate = ___ cm, Actual = ___ cm
Width of your desk: Estimate = ___ cm, Actual = ___ cm
Mass of your lunchbox: Estimate = ___ g, Actual = ___ g
Temperature outside: Estimate = ___°C, Actual = ___°C
Estimate and Measure (Set B)
Estimate, then measure.
Length of your shoe: Estimate = ___ cm, Actual = ___ cm
Height of a water bottle: Estimate = ___ cm, Actual = ___ cm
Capacity of a cup: Estimate = ___ mL, Actual = ___ mL
Which estimates were closest? Why do you think?
Scale Reading Sequences
Continue the sequence of scale readings.
Choose the Right Instrument
Circle the best instrument to measure each thing.
Length of a classroom
Mass of a bag of flour
Temperature of bath water
Amount of water in a bottle
Choose the Right Unit
Circle the best unit for each measurement.
Mass of a car
Length of a pencil
Capacity of a swimming pool
Distance from home to school
Classroom Temperature Log
Record the temperature at different times of day.
| Item | Tally | Total |
|---|---|---|
9:00 AM | ||
12:00 PM | ||
3:00 PM |
Reading a Measuring Jug (Set A)
Circle the correct capacity.
Water line at the 3rd mark (each mark = 100 mL)
Water line halfway between 500 mL and 1 L
Water line at 2 marks past 1 L (each mark = 250 mL)
Reading a Measuring Jug (Set B)
Circle the correct reading.
Water line at 4 marks (each mark = 50 mL)
Water line halfway between 200 mL and 400 mL
Water line 1 mark past 750 mL (each mark = 50 mL)
Unit Conversions (Length)
Fill in the missing value.
Unit Conversions (Mass)
Fill in the missing value.
Estimate and Measure (Set A)
Estimate first, then measure if you can.
Length of your desk — Estimate: ___ cm, Measured: ___ cm
Mass of your pencil case — Estimate: ___ g, Measured: ___ g
Capacity of a cup — Estimate: ___ mL, Measured: ___ mL
Temperature outside — Estimate: ___ °C, Actual: ___ °C
Estimate and Measure (Set B)
Estimate, then measure.
Length of your arm — Estimate: ___ cm, Measured: ___ cm
Mass of a book — Estimate: ___ g, Measured: ___ g
Width of your hand — Estimate: ___ cm, Measured: ___ cm
Convert the Units
Convert each measurement.
3 m = ___ cm
2 kg = ___ g
5 L = ___ mL
150 cm = ___ m ___ cm
2,500 g = ___ kg ___ g
Which Is More?
Circle the larger measurement.
Which is longer?
Which is heavier?
Which holds more?
Which is hotter?
Measurement Word Problems (Set A)
Solve each problem. Show your working.
A ribbon is 2 m 40 cm long. You cut off 85 cm. How long is the ribbon now?
A recipe needs 750 mL of milk. You have 1 L. How much will be left over?
Measurement Word Problems (Set B)
Solve each problem.
Three packages weigh 450 g, 1.2 kg and 800 g. What is the total mass in kg?
The temperature at 7 am was 12°C. By noon it rose 15°C. What was the noon temperature?
Challenge: Reading Tricky Scales
Answer these questions about reading instruments.
A scale goes from 0 to 500 g with 10 marks. What does each mark represent?
A thermometer goes from 0°C to 50°C with 25 marks. What does each mark represent?
Why is it important to read a measuring jug at eye level?
Home Activity: Measurement Scavenger Hunt
Use measuring tools around your home!
- 1Find 3 objects shorter than 15 cm. Measure them with a ruler.
- 2Weigh 3 fruits or vegetables on kitchen scales. Order them lightest to heaviest.
- 3Fill different containers with water. Estimate capacity, then measure with a jug.
- 4Read the thermometer at different times of the day. How does temperature change?
Match Measurements to Scaled Instruments
Draw a line from each measurement to the instrument used to measure it.
Read the Scale (Length)
Circle the correct reading from the scale.
The ruler shows a mark between 8 cm and 9 cm, halfway. The length is:
A tape measure reads between 140 cm and 150 cm, 3/10 of the way. The measurement is:
A scale shows between 2.5 kg and 3 kg, halfway. The mass is:
A jug scale shows between 400 mL and 500 mL, one-fifth of the way. Volume is:
Estimating Before Measuring
Estimate first, then measure (if possible) or calculate.
Estimate the length of your hand span in cm: ___ cm. How would you check this measurement?
Estimate the mass of your school bag in kg: ___ kg. What instrument would you use?
Estimate the temperature outside right now: ___°C. How close do you think you are?
Sort Measurements: Appropriate Unit?
Sort each measurement into whether the unit is appropriate or inappropriate.
Converting Units of Length
Convert each measurement to the unit shown.
3.5 m = ___ cm
450 cm = ___ m
2.3 km = ___ m
8,500 m = ___ km
67 mm = ___ cm
Converting Units of Mass
Convert each measurement to the unit shown.
4.5 kg = ___ g
750 g = ___ kg
2.25 kg = ___ g
3,400 g = ___ kg
Converting Units of Capacity
Convert each measurement to the unit shown.
1.5 L = ___ mL
750 mL = ___ L
2.75 L = ___ mL
3,200 mL = ___ L
Temperature Reading and Comparison
Circle the correct answer.
Water boils at:
A comfortable room temperature is about:
If the temperature is −5°C and rises 12°C, the new temperature is:
Which is colder: 8°C or −8°C?
Measurement Word Problems
Solve each measurement problem.
A piece of ribbon is 3.5 m long. It is cut into 5 equal pieces. How long is each piece?
A bag of flour weighs 2.5 kg. If you use 750 g for baking, how much is left?
A container holds 2 L of juice. If 350 mL is poured out, how much remains?
Measurement Errors Tally
How often do students read measurements incorrectly on different instruments?
| Item | Tally | Total |
|---|---|---|
Ruler errors | ||
Scales errors | ||
Jug errors | ||
Thermometer errors |
Daily Temperature Pictograph
Each sun = 5°C. Read the pictograph and answer questions.
| Monday | |
| Tuesday | |
| Wednesday | |
| Thursday | |
| Friday |
What was the temperature on Monday?
On which day was it hottest?
What is the difference between the hottest and coolest days?
What is the average temperature for the week?
Choose the Right Scale
Answer these questions about choosing the right scale.
You want to weigh a baby. Would you use scales marked in 1 kg, 100 g or 10 g intervals? Why?
You are filling a swimming pool. Would you measure in mL, L or kL? Why?
You are measuring the distance from Sydney to Melbourne. Which unit? Why?
Measurement Investigation
Investigate measurement in your classroom.
Measure the width of your desk in cm. Convert to mm and to m.
Estimate the mass of 10 pencils. What instrument would you use to check?
If a scale only shows every 500 g, how would you measure something that is 750 g?
Challenge: Scale Interpolation
Read between the marks on scaled instruments.
A ruler shows 6 cm and 7 cm. There are 10 marks between them. Each mark is ___ mm. A pencil measures to the 3rd mark past 6 cm. Length = ___
A thermometer shows 20°C and 30°C with 5 marks between. Each mark = ___°C. The mercury is at the 2nd mark past 20°C. Temperature = ___°C