2nd grade · Math · Unit 4 of 16
Measuring
Centimeters and meters
What your child practices
Measuring with a ruler from zero and choosing between centimeters and meters.
Arizona Academic Standards learning standard: 2.MD.A.1; 2.MD.A.3 · measuring and estimating lengths in centimeters and meters
How we explain it
Children can open this short lesson before they practice.
- Centimeters (cm) measure short lengths.
- Meters (m) measure long lengths.
- Line up the 0 on the ruler with one end.
Example: Would you measure a pencil in cm or m? A pencil is short. Short things use centimeters. Answer: cm
Measuring in Arizona
In the Arizona Academic Standards, this is unit 4 of 16 in 2nd grade Math, after Adding to 100 and before Shapes.
Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.
Source: Arizona Department of Education
Sample questions
A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.
Question 1
How long is the carrot?
🥕0123456789101112131415cm- 7 cm
- 3 cm
- 1 cm
7 cm
Hint: Start at 0. Count the centimeters to the end of the carrot.
Question 2
Would you measure a hallway in centimeters or meters?
🚪- meters
- centimeters
meters
Hint: Small things: centimeters (cm). Big things: meters (m). 1 meter is 100 centimeters.
Question 3
Would you measure a ladybug in centimeters or meters?
🐞- meters
- centimeters
centimeters
Hint: Small things: centimeters (cm). Big things: meters (m). 1 meter is 100 centimeters.
Question 4
How long is the caterpillar?
🐛0123456789101112131415cm- 2 cm
- 5 cm
- 8 cm
8 cm
Hint: Start at 0. Count the centimeters to the end of the caterpillar.
Question 5
How long is the spoon?
🥄0123456789101112131415cm- 1 cm
- 12 cm
- 7 cm
7 cm
Hint: Start at 0. Count the centimeters to the end of the spoon.
Question 6
How many centimeters make 1 meter?
📏- 99
- 95
- 100
100
Hint: A meter stick has 100 centimeters on it.