Handy lengths

Handy lengths

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This task is about understanding length.

Question

 
Jenny measured the length of her bedroom using her hand span. She said, "My room is 21 hands long".
Her little sister, Suzie, used her hand span to measure Jenny's bedroom and said, "No, your room is 29 hands long".
 
Whose measurement is correct? (Select one)

    • Suzie is correct

    • Jenny is correct

    • Both are correct

    • Neither is correct

Explain why you decided on your answer:
Level:
2
Curriculum info: 
Maths, Geometry and Measurement, Measurement
Key Competencies: 
Thinking
Keywords: 
length, units of measurement, non standard units, problem solving
Description of task: 
Students explain why two people will get different totals when measuring a room using their hand span.
Curriculum Links: 
This resource can help to identify students' understanding of non standard unit measurement of length for the Measurement objectives.
Learning Progression Frameworks
This resource can provide evidence of learning associated with
Measurement sense, sets 3-4
within the Mathematics Learning Progressions Frameworks.
Read more about the Learning Progressions Frameworks.
Answers/responses: 
 

Y6 (11/2002)
 a)

i)
ii)
 
Both are correct (C)
Responses need to support the answer chosen in i) and may include:
  • Each girl has a different sized hand span.
  • If the hand span is smaller/bigger, the measurement will be larger/smaller.
  • Each hand span is an acceptable estimate/measure of distance.

NOTE: Students' responses will vary.

moderate
(for both i) and ii) correct)

 

Diagnostic and formative information: 
  

Common error

(D)

 Examples of student explanations for (D):
Because the hands are different sizes.
Only adults can measure accurately like this.
A handspan is not a correct unit of measure.