This document provides information about a 4th grade math lesson on customary measurement. Students are learning about linear units like inches and feet, as well as units for capacity and weight. The lesson includes examples of measuring lengths to the nearest inch and converting between units. There are also practice problems for students to complete measuring objects at home and converting between customary units.

1. HARCOURT MATH Name
GRADE 4 Date
Chapter 24
WHAT WE ARE LEARNING Dear Family,
Customary Measurement Your child is learning about customary
measurements. We are working with linear units,
VOCABULARY capacity, and weight. Your child is learning how to
Here are the vocabulary measure and how to change measurements from
one unit to another. Here are some examples of what
words we use in class:
is being taught.
Linear units Linear units
Measure the line segment to the nearest 1 inch.
8
are the units used to
measure length, width,
height, or distance. The 1 2 3 4 5 6
inches
customary linear units are
3
inch (in.), foot (ft), yard (yd),
The length of the line segment is closer to 3 8 in. than
4 3 1
to 3 8 , so it is 3 8 in. long to the nearest 8 inch.
and mile (mi).
Capacity The capacity of Below are the customary units of measure that we
a container is the amount it will be using to change units such as feet to inches,
can hold when filled. The pints to quarts, and ounces to pounds.
customary units for Customary Units for Customary Units for
Customary Linear Units Measuring Liquids Measuring Weight
measuring capacity are
1 foot (ft) 12 inches (in.) 1 cup (c) 8 ounces (oz) 1 pound (lb) 16 oz
teaspoon (tsp), tablespoon 1 yard (yd) 3 feet 1 pint (pt) 2 cups 1 ton (T) 2,000 lb
(tbsp), cup (c), pint (pt), 1 mile (mi) 5,280 feet 1 quart (qt) 2 pints
1 mile 1,760 yards 1 gallon (gal) 4 quarts
quart (qt), and gallon (gal).
Weight The weight of an As you work with your child on the practice
object is how heavy it is. exercises and the other pages in this packet, ask
these questions when appropriate:
The customary units for
• Can you estimate how long that would be?
measuring weight are ounce
• To change from inches to feet, will you multiply
(oz), pound (lb), and ton (T). or divide?
• How do you know that those measurements are
© Harcourt
equivalent?
Talking about math with your child is one of the
best ways to build confidence.
Sincerely,
Family Involvement Activities FA93

2. HOME ACTIVITY
Measurement Fun
Have fun with your child measuring objects in your home.
Encourage him or her to measure to the nearest 1 inch,
4
or 1 inch when appropriate.
8
1 2 3 4 5 6
inches
Use an inch ruler.
1. How long is a teaspoon? _________
2. How wide is a dish towel? _________
3. How high is a toaster? _________
Use a measuring cup.
4. How many cups will fill a pot? _________
5. How many cups will fill a vase? _________
6. How many cups will fill a pitcher? _________
Use a bathroom scale.
7. How many pounds does a bag of groceries weigh? _________
8. How many pounds does a dictionary weigh? _________
9. How many pounds does a pair of sneakers weigh? _________
© Harcourt
FA94 Family Involvement Activities

3. PRACTICE/HOMEWORK
Name _________________________
Customary Measurement
Choose the most reasonable unit of measure.
Write in., ft, yd, or mi.
1. The length of a pair 2. The height of a school 3. The distance from
of scissors is about desk is about 1 _____. New York to Boston is
6 _____. about 260 _____.
Circle the greater measurement.
4. 5 in. or 5 ft 5. 2 yd or 2 mi 6. 1 yd or 2 ft
1 1
7. Measure to the nearest 4 inch. 8. Measure to the nearest 8 inch.
Order the measurements from least to greatest.
9. 1 1 in., 2 1 in., 1 7 in.
4 8 8 10. 1
2 in., 5
8 in., 3
4 in., 3
8 in.
Complete.
11. 4 ft in. 12. 3 yd ft 13. 2 mi yd
Choose the unit of capacity. Write c, qt, or gal.
14. You usually drink 15. A large aquarium 16. A pitcher of
about 1 of milk holds about 7 lemonade holds
at a time. of water. about 1 .
Change the unit.
17. 2 lb = oz 18. 4 T = lb 19. 5 lb = oz
Write multiply or divide to tell how to change the unit.
© Harcourt
20. yards to feet 21. quarts to pints 22. ounces to pounds
12. 9 ft; 13. 3,520 yd; 14. c; 15. gal; 16. qt; 17. 32; 18. 8,000 lb; 19. 80; 20. multiply; 21. multiply; 22. divide
Answers: 1. in.; 2. yd; 3. mi; 4. 5 ft; 5. 2 mi; 6. 1 yd; 7. 2 4 ; 8. 3 8 ; 9. 1 4 in., 1 8 in., 2 8 in.; 10. 8 in., 2 in., 8 in., 4 in.; 11. 48 in.;
3 5 1 3 1 7 1 1 3
Family Involvement Activities FA95

4. MATH GAME
Play this game with a family member.
Each player should keep a separate score card.
Here’s how to play. Take turns tossing a penny onto the fish pond. If the penny
lands on a fish, find its equivalent measure on another fish. Record your “catches”
on your scorecard. Then put an X on each of those two fish. You’ve caught them!
Keep playing until all the fish in the pond have been caught. If the coin misses a
fish or lands on a fish with an X, the fish has gotten away and the next player takes
a turn. The player with the greater number of fish wins.
7c
3 1 pt
2
1 yd 4 gal
7 ft
2T 74 in. 15,840 ft
1 4 in.
8
84 in.
4 mi
9,000 lb 6 ft 2 in.
32 pt
1 1 in.
2 4,000 lb
3 ft
© Harcourt
3 mi 7,040 yd
41 T
2
FA96 Family Involvement Activities