Measurements

Measurements

One area of fifth grade math that is full of possibilities is measurement. There are basic units of measurement that fifth graders must know, but the possible activities are endless. Regardless of what teachers choose to do in the classroom to reinforce measurement skills, or what they realistically have time for, parents have the chance to continue to reinforce measurement at home.

Students will be learning about units of measurement and converting from one unit to another. They’ll be asked to use both US Customary and Metric units of length, weight, capacity, and temperature and to convert among them as needed. They’ll also do more with elapsed time and learn to apply it to real life situations. Students at younger levels don’t always fully understand why it’s necessary to understand how to calculate elapsed time, but older students can begin to see the real value of such a skill. “How much time do I have until practice?” “How many days did it take to complete the project?” Fifth grade students will also practice calculating measurements when it comes to area, perimeter and volume. Finally, students will gather new fifth grade math terms to build their existing vocabulary.

So, how can all of this be practiced at home? Think about all the times you use measurement during the day: weighing yourself on the scale, checking the time to see how long you have to get ready, measuring ingredients for dinner, using a tape measure for a building project. Children can get involved in all of these activities. It is a great opportunity to learn more about measurement in the real world.