Family Math Letter

Grade 1: Unit 4
Sorting, Comparing, and
Ordering
Dear Family,
Our class will be working on a unit focused on measurement. Your child will
measure with a variety of non-standard units such as cubes, tiles, paper clips,
and/ or paper cutouts. We will investigate the idea that different-sized units
result in different measurements.
During this unit, we will learn how to tell time to the hour and half hour on
analog and digital clocks. We will be looking at the relationship between the
minute and hour hand. In addition students will sequence daily activities and
compare duration of events.
Throughout this unit, students will be working towards these goals:
BENCHMARKS/GOALS

EXAMPLES

Demonstrate accurate
techniques when measuring a
distance with nonstandard
units. These techniques
include starting at the
beginning, ending at the end,
leaving no gaps or overlaps,
measuring in a straight line
and keeping track of the
number of units.
Know at least one way of
describing a measurement
that falls between two whole
numbers.
Understand that the same
result should be obtained
when the same object is
measured twice or when two
different people measure the
same object (using the same
unit).

Adapted from Pearson Education, Inc.

Dave measured a book. He found it was

12 small paper clips long. Then Carla
measured the same book and found that
it was 15 small paper clips long. Can
both answers be right? What could have
happened?

Grade 1

June 2013

Understand that measuring

with different-sized units will
result in different numbers.

How far is this distance in big feet and in

little feet? Why are the counts different?
Throughout this unit, students are learning
to use consistent units to measure.

___________________________________
Tell time to the half hour.

Tell time to the hour.

This standard calls for students

to work with categorical data
by organizing, representing
and interpreting data.
Students should have
experiences posing a question
with 3 possible responses and
then work with the data that
they collect.

What is your favorite flavor of ice

cream?
Chocolate
12
Vanilla
5
Strawberry
6

Throughout this unit, students are learning to use consistent non-standard

units to measure accurately and to understand the underlying
mathematics of measuring. Students will be posing questions, collecting
data, making representations of the data they collect and interpreting
information.

Adapted from Pearson Education, Inc.

Grade 1

June 2013

Related Activities to Try at Home

Picture Diary: Help your child keep a picture diary of one activity he/she
did each day for a week. Ask your child to write the name of the day and
the time the activity was done beside each picture. Discuss with your
child about how long each activity took.
Clocks: Practice telling time using clocks in your home (analog and
digital).
Measuring with Hands and Feet Have your child choose an object or
distance and measure it with his or her hands (wrist to fingertip) and feet
(heel-to-toe steps). Then your child can record each object as a specific
number of hands or feet. As an extension, your child can compare the
measurements that other members of your family get when using their
hands or feet.
Math and Literature
Here are some childrens books that involve measurement and data. You
can find them in your local library or bookstore and read them with your
child.
Jim and the Beanstalk, by Briggs, Raymond
Guess How Much I Love You, by McBratney, Sam
Super Sand Castle Saturday, Murphy, Stuart J
Math Counts: Length, by Pluckrose, Henry
The Line Up Book, by Russo, Marisabina
If You Hopped Like a Frog, by Schwartz, David
This Is the Way We Eat Our Lunch, by Baer, Edith
The Berenstain Bears and the Messy Room, by Berenstain, Jan and Stan
Would You Rather . . . ., by Burningham, John
What Time Is It, Mr. Crocodile?, by Judy Sierra
Ten Minutes Till Bedtime, by Peggy Rathmann
Bunny Day: Telling Time from Breakfast to Bedtime, by Rick Walton
The Grouchy Ladybug, by Eric Carle
Sincerely,
First-Grade Teachers

Adapted from Pearson Education, Inc.

Grade 1

June 2013