Measurement isn’t just a math skill—it’s a life skill! So, why not use real-world examples to help students learn how to measure length in a fun way? Hands-on measurement activities provide the best way to build conceptual understanding. As students physically compare lengths, they’re doing more than “just playing” — they’re making connections.

Using everyday classroom items, you can enhance your measurement lessons without added stress. And the addition of a fun, math-forward read-aloud will help guide and reinforce everything they’ve learned. Here are a few ideas!

Measurement Activity with Play-Doh

It’s no secret that hands-on activities can get messy or noisy, but that’s okay! The engagement, excitement, and classroom participation will be worth it (like way back when we pulled off a fun Measurement Olympics)—students will certainly remember those moments the most!

Now, with that disclaimer in place, let’s talk measurement with Play-Doh snakes. This activity gives students a tactile way to practice measuring with standard units of length.

Materials Needed:

• Play-doh
• Number cubes
• Rulers (inch and centimeter)

How It Works:

• Students roll a number cube to determine how long to make their Play-Doh “snake.”
• If they roll a 3, they roll out a snake that is 3 inches long.
• Students use a ruler to check their measurements and adjust as needed.
• They repeat the process, making multiple snakes in various lengths.
• Students can compare and order their snakes from shortest to longest for additional practice.

This activity reinforces measurement skills while also developing fine motor control. It can be done with inches or centimeters, allowing students to see the difference in unit sizes.

Measure and Order Lengths with Pipe Cleaners

Pipe cleaners are easy to work with and manipulate, making them a great choice for hands-on practice. It’s also something you likely already have on hand. This activity helps students practice ordering objects by length before measuring and recording data. 

Materials Needed:

• Pipe cleaners in various lengths and colors
• Rulers (inch and centimeter)
• Paper and pencils

How It Works:

• Provide students with a collection of pipe cleaners in different lengths.
• Students first order the pipe cleaners from shortest to longest.
• Using a ruler, they measure each pipe cleaner and record the length.
• To extend the activity, students draw lines on paper to represent each pipe cleaner and label its measurement.

By engaging in this activity, students strengthen their ability to compare, order, and accurately measure objects using a ruler.

Measure Classroom Objects to Compare Lengths

Using playful, familiar materials keeps students engaged and less likely to zone out during a math lesson. So, as students are practicing measuring lengths, browse your classroom for varying materials. This activity encourages students to use measurement skills in a real-world context by comparing everyday objects.

Materials Needed:

• A brown paper bag
• A variety of small classroom objects (e.g., pencils, glue sticks, markers, erasers)
• Rulers (inch and centimeter)

How It Works:

1. Place several classroom objects into a brown paper bag.
2. Students take turns pulling out two objects at a time.
3. Using a ruler, they measure both objects and record the lengths.
4. Students compare the lengths and determine which object is longer.
5. Students can order all measured objects from shortest to longest for additional practice.

This activity guides students to make clear, direct comparisons, helping them build a deeper and more concrete understanding of measurement relationships.

Measurement Books

Picture books are an engaging way to introduce measurement concepts before jumping into hands-on measurement activities. Each of these measurement books can be used as a launch pad as you leap into each activity. 

One of my favorite reads from this list is Actual Size by Steve Jenkins, an awe-inducing book that compares animals’ real-life sizes with beautiful illustrations. After reading this story, students could move into similarly comparing real-world objects. 

Here are a few more suggestions for your lesson!

• How Tall? Wacky Ways to Compare Height by Mark Weakland
• Super Sand Castle Saturday by Stuart J. Murphy
• How Big is a Foot by Rolf Myller
• How Long or How Wide by Brian P. Cleary
• Measuring Penny by Loreen Leedy
• Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni

Each of these measurement activities can be completed in student notebooks, or you can save some time and grab these fun templates inside our Introduction to Measurement unit, featuring over 10 print-and-go interactive activities for mastering measurement with inches and centimeters!

Save these engaging hands-on measurement activities for your next lesson!