K-5 friendly lesson
One small step at a time.Read the idea, try the activity, and celebrate each win as you go.

Which Customary Unit is Best? (in, ft, yd)

πŸ€” Big or small? Picking the wrong measuring tool can be a disaster! Would you measure a pencil in yards?

Do this: Read the concept below, then try the quiz or activity.

Lesson 86 of 186

Concept

Let's review how to pick the smartest unit to measure with.

🎯 The Customary Size Guide: 1. Inch (in): Very small. Best for a cell phone, a mouse, a book, a pencil. (If it fits on a desk, use inches!). 2. Foot (ft): Medium. Best for a person, a door, a desk, a bicycle. (If you can walk across it in a few steps, use feet!). 3. Yard (yd): Huge. Best for a playground, a football field, the length of an airplane. (If you have to run across it, use yards!).

If you measured an airplane in inches, the number would be way too big! "The plane is 1,800 inches long" is silly. It's much easier to say "50 yards"!

Try it

Pick the smartest unit!

Instructions: Choose whether you should use Inches (in), Feet (ft), or Yards (yd).

Problem 1: You want to measure the length of a brand new crayon. A) Inches B) Feet C) Yards

Problem 2: You are measuring the length of a giant football field. A) Inches B) Feet C) Yards

Problem 3: You need to know how tall the front door to your house is. A) Inches B) Feet C) Yards

Problem 4: You want to measure the width of your computer screen. A) Inches B) Feet C) Yards