Transform Your Second Grade Measurement Unit with Lessons

If you’ve been around my blog a while, you already know that measurement is one of my absolute FAVORITE things to teach. Teaching measurement is hands-on, engaging, full of movement, and easy to connect to the real world. Kids seem to go wild for anything that involves rulers, scavenger hunts, and fun activities! Every year, when it’s time for our Second Grade Measurement Unit, the classroom vibe shifts. My students are suddenly so ready to measure, compare, and estimate!

So today I’m sharing everything I use year after year during my Second Grade Measurement Unit: the lessons, hands-on activities, centers, books, and the little tricks I live by.

Grab your coffee, pretend we’re chatting during planning time, and let’s dive in!

Second Grade Measurement Unit – Building Background Knowledge

Before we dive deep into rulers and measurement, I like to build background knowledge and an understanding of how measurement connects to real life. During the introduction to our measurement unit, I introduce the concept of measurement through the book Jim and the Beanstalk by Raymond Briggs. After reading and discussing the book, I have my students help me create a list of ways we use measurement.

After we make our class list, I read How Do We Use Measurement? to the class. It’s a simple text that helps students see concrete examples of how measurement is used everywhere. You could also have students work in groups to read this book and make a list of their own to later share with the class.

As we work our way through Second Grade Measurement Unit concepts, I have my students keep a mini book of measurements. It’s great for helping students remember the size of different units, as well as compare Customary and Metric Measurement Systems. Students can take the mini book home, reference it, and/or use it as an anchor tool during lessons.

Starting with Nonstandard Units

Second Grade 2nd Grade Measurement Measuring Unit Lesson Plans Length Activities Nonstandard Standard Units Craft Engaging Comprehensive Differences Comparing Estimating These concrete rulers can easily be extended to 12 units instead of 10.

I always begin our Second Grade Measurement Unit with nonstandard units. It builds confidence and helps students truly understand the “why” behind measurement before we throw rulers into the mix.

I like beginning with concrete colored rulers. They’re basically inch-block rulers that can be 10 or 12 units long, depending on how you build them. Students use them to measure EVERYTHING: pencils, books, their hands, the leg of a chair, the length of the table, you name it.

The best part? It helps students make the transition from nonstandard to standard units much easier. When you’re ready, you can transition students to using a concrete ruler with numbers. This helps students get used to measuring and using a ruler before being introduced to a ruler with Metric and Customary systems and tick marks. By the time you introduce a regular ruler, students will be prepared and ready!

Measuring Penny, a Measurement Craft Activity

If I had to choose only one book to introduce measurement, it would always be Measuring Penny by Loreen Leedy. This book + second graders = gold. I read it every single year during our Second Grade Measurement Unit, and it’s the perfect anchor text for everything that comes afterward. In the book, the main character uses nonstandard units to measure different items. After reading, we make a craft of Penny, a character from the book, and complete a nonstandard measurement activity to go along with it. Some years I also like to have students complete a measurement-based “homework” assignment that ties directly to the story. It’s a great way to make a home-school learning connection!

$Second Grade Measurement 2nd Grade Length Differences Comparing Lesson Plan Math Centers Measuring Paths Adding Lengths Units Comparing Estimating Word Problems$

My students love this activity each year, and honestly, I love it, too!

Our Favorite Measurement Lesson: Becoming Official Zookeepers

Okay, this activity is a STUDENT FAVORITE every single year!

$Second Grade Measurement 2nd Grade Length Differences Comparing Lesson Plan Math Centers Measuring Paths Adding Lengths Units Comparing Estimating Word Problems Height Differences Length$

During our Second Grade Measurement Unit, students become Official Zookeepers! They receive zookeeper badges and must travel around “the zoo” to see animals and compare height differences. This engaging lesson covers comparing lengths, subtraction, and real-world reasoning.

Not to mention, my students are convinced they are actual zookeepers for the day. Clipboard and all! And yes, I fully lean into the role-play. I may or may not speak in an overly serious “zoo supervisor” voice! To add to the engagement, you could play a jungle or wildlife relaxiation sound video in the background. There are several of these videos on YouTube that would easily up the engagement during this lesson!

Second Grade Measurement Unit Centers That Keep Kids Engaged

$Second Grade 2nd Grade Measurement Measuring Unit Lesson Plans Length Activities Nonstandard Standard Units Craft Engaging Comprehensive Differences Comparing Estimating$

I love using math centers in my classroom as they give me a chance to work one-on-one with students or small groups of students, and I’m especially HUGE on centers during this unit because measurement lends itself so well to exploration! I have five measurement center activities during our Second Grade Measurement Unit, and they’re honestly some of the most-requested rotations all year.

1. Community Dash

In this measurement center, students measure paths traveled by community helpers. It’s a great activity for practicing measuring paths and adding lengths. Students will practice measuring paths in inches using a ruler and adding lengths.