Lesson 3
Create and Use a Ruler
Lesson Purpose
Lesson Narrative
In earlier lessons, students measured with centimeters using centimeter cubes and 10-centimeter tools (base-ten blocks). They used multiple copies of the units to measure objects and line segments of different lengths.
In this lesson, students transition from measuring length with physical objects to measuring length with more abstract tools such as rulers, measuring tapes, and meter sticks. They create rulers and describe how a centimeter is represented on the tool (MP2). They learn that a centimeter is represented by the length between two tick-marks on a ruler and that each number on the centimeter ruler represents the distance in centimeters from zero.
Students use the ruler they create in the first activity throughout the lesson, including the cool-down. They should store their rulers for easy access in upcoming lessons.
- Representation
Learning Goals
Teacher Facing
- Create and use a ruler with centimeter units.
- Measure to determine how much longer one object is than another.
Student Facing
- Let’s create rulers and use them to measure and compare lengths in centimeters.
Required Materials
Materials to Gather
Materials to Copy
- Centimeter Ruler Template
Required Preparation
Lesson Timeline
Warm-up | 10 min |
Activity 1 | 20 min |
Activity 2 | 15 min |
Lesson Synthesis | 10 min |
Cool-down | 5 min |
Teacher Reflection Questions
Suggested Centers
- Target Numbers (1–5), Stage 5: Subtract Two-digit Numbers (Addressing)
- Five in a Row: Addition and Subtraction (1–2), Stage 6: Add within 100 with Composing (Supporting)
Print Formatted Materials
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Student Task Statements | docx | |
Lesson Cover Page | docx | |
Cool Down | Log In | |
Teacher Guide | Log In | |
Teacher Presentation Materials | docx | |
Blackline Masters | zip |