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Clarifications: Each clarification provides an explanation of the indicator/objective to help teachers better understand the concept. Classroom examples are often included to further illustrate the concept. While classroom examples could be shared with the students, the intended audience for the explanation/clarification is the classroom teacher-not the student. In addition, classroom examples may or may not reflect the assessment limits.

Standard 3.0 Knowledge of Measurement

Topic A. Measurement Units

Indicator 1. Recognize and use measurement attributes

Objective a. Demonstrate an understanding of comparative attributes such as: bigger, smaller, longer, shorter, lighter, heavier, shorter, taller, hotter, colder

Clarification

Exploring measurement presents additional opportunities for students to compare objects in different ways. These experiences are important for students' understanding of mathematics. Students connect these understandings later to more abstract ideas, such as numeration. Providing students with everyday objects to measure first (before pictures) is beneficial in developing students' measurement concepts. Several examples of comparing familiar objects are:

  • Comparing the length of a piece of string to other objects (longer, shorter, bigger, smaller).
  • Finding objects in the classroom to compare height (shorter or taller than the student).
  • Collecting classroom or familiar objects found in the home to compare weight or size.
  • Comparing the weight of objects in the classroom to a box of crayons.
  • Asking students to model a long and short line.

These authentic experiences help students to develop meaningful understandings of comparative language, essential to understanding later measurement concepts.
/instruction/clarification/mathematics/gradePK/xml/3A1a.xml
Resources for Objective 3.A.1.a:
CLARIFICATIONS | Prerequisites | Lesson Seeds | Thinking Skills | Sample Assessments |