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Mathematics

Measurement

Before they enter preschool, children have acquired the rudiments of measurement in that they have begun to evaluate and compare size. In preschool, they begin to measure things using instruments such as a rope or growth chart.

Establishing a relationship between two geometric figures means recognizing similar shapes or identical measurements (congruence) but also realizing that a figure can fit inside another repeatedly to completely cover it (tessellation, measurement). Measuring therefore involves much more than merely taking a reading on an instrument. Measurement sense is developed by making comparisons and estimates, using a variety of conventional and unconventional units of measure. To develop their sense of measuring (of time, mass, capacity, temperature, angles, length, area and volume), students must participate in activities that allow them to design and build instruments, to use invented and conventional measuring instruments and to manipulate conventional units of measure. They must learn to calculate direct measurements (e.g. calculate a perimeter or area, graduate a ruler) and indirect measurements (e.g. read a scale drawing, make a scale drawing, measure the area of a figure by decomposing it, calculate the thickness of a sheet of paper when the thickness of several sheets is known).

The table below presents the learning content associated with measurement. The concepts and processes targeted will provide students with increasingly complex tools that will help them develop and use all three mathematics competencies.

Student constructs knowledge with teacher guidance.
Student applies knowledge by the end of the school year.
 
Student reinvests knowledge.
Elementary
Cycle
One		 Cycle
Two		 Cycle
Three
  1. Lengths
 1 2 3 4 5 6
  1. Compares lengths
        
  1. Constructs rulers
        
  1. Estimates and measures the dimensions of an object using unconventional units
        
  1. Estimates and measures the dimensions of an object using conventional units
    1. metre, decimetre and centimetre
        
    1. metre, decimetre, centimetre and millimetre
        
    1. metre, decimetre, centimetre, millimetre and kilometre
        
  1. Establishes relationships between units of measure for length
    1. metre, decimetre, centimetre and millimetre
        
    1. metre, decimetre, centimetre, millimetre and kilometre
        
  1. Calculates the perimeter of plane figures
        
    Vocabulary
    Width, length, height, depth
    Unit of measure, centimetre, decimetre, metre
    Symbols
    m, dm, cm
       
    Vocabulary
    Perimeter, millimetre
    Symbol
    mm
       
    Vocabulary
    Kilometre
    Symbol
    km
       
  1. Surface areas
 1 2 3 4 5 6
  1. Estimates and measures surface area
    1. using unconventional units
        
    1. using conventional units
        
    Vocabulary
    Surface, area
       
    Vocabulary
    Square centimetre, square decimetre, square metre
    Symbols
    m2, dm2, cm2
       
  1. Volumes
 1 2 3 4 5 6
  1. Estimates and measures volume
    1. using unconventional units
        
    1. using conventional units
        
    Vocabulary
    Volume
       
    Vocabulary
    Cubic centimetre, cubic decimetre, cubic metre
    Symbols
    m3, dm3, cm3
       
  1. Angles
 1 2 3 4 5 6
  1. Compares angles
        
    Vocabulary
    Angle, right angle, acute angle, obtuse angle
       
  1. Estimates and determines the degree measurement of angles
       
    Vocabulary
    Degree, protractor
    Symbols
    ∠, °

       
  1. Capacities
 1 2 3 4 5 6
  1. Estimates and measures capacity using unconventional units
      
  1. Estimates and measures capacity using conventional units
      
  1. Establishes relationships between units of measure
    (e.g. : 1 L = 1000 mL, ½ L = 500 mL)
          
    Vocabulary
    Capacity, litre, millilitre
    Symbols
    L, mL
       
  1. Masses
 1 2 3 4 5 6
  1. Estimates and measures mass using unconventional units
    
  1. Estimates and measures mass using conventional units
    
  1. Establishes relationships between units of measure
    (e.g. : 1 kg = 1000 g, ½ kg = 500 g)
        
    Vocabulary
    Mass, gram, kilogram
    Symbols
    g, kg
       
  1. Time
 1 2 3 4 5 6
  1. Estimates and measures time using conventional units
    
  1. Establishes relationships between units of measure
    Vocabulary
    Day, hour, minute, second
    Symbols
    h, min, s, representation of time: 3 h, 3 h 25 min, 03:25, 3:25 a.m.
       
    Vocabulary
    Daily cycle, weekly cycle, yearly cycle
   
  1. Temperatures
 1 2 3 4 5 6
  1. Estimates and measures temperature using conventional units
    Vocabulary
    Degree Celsius
    Symbol
    °C
       

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