1. Estimating Measures Using Benchmarks
Customary and Metric Systems

2. Length – Customary System
Inch (in)
Foot (ft)
Yard (yd)
Mile (mi)
1 foot = 12 inches
1 yard = 3 feet
1 mile = 5280 feet
The distance between the knuckles on your index finger is approximately
1 inch.
Your notebook is approximately
1 foot tall.
A baseball bat is approximately
1 yard long.
You run the mile in PE. Four times around a track is equal to
1 mile.
Practice for Customary Length

3. Weight - Customary System
Ounce (oz)
Pound (lb)
Ton (T)
1 pound = 16 ounces
1 ton = 2000 pounds
A slice of bread weighs about
1 ounce.
A loaf of bread weighs about 1 pound.
A car weighs about
1 ton.
Practice for Customary Weight

4. Capacity – Customary System
Cups (c)
Pint (pt)
Quart (qt)
Gallon (gal)
I pint = 2 cups
1 quart = 2 pints
1 gallon = 4 quarts
A small cup of coffee holds about 1 cup
A tall glass of lemonade is about 1 pint.
Oil containers are 1 quart.
A large container of milk or water is
1 gallon.
Practice for Customary Capacity

5. Length – Metric System Millimeter (mm) Centimeter (cm) Meter (m)
Kilometer (km)
1 cm = 10 mm
1 m = 100 dm
1 km = 1000 m
The edge of a dime is about
1 millimeter.
A paperclip is about 1 cm wide.
The distance from the floor to the door know is about
1 meter.
10 football fields end-to-end are about kilometer.
Practice for Metric Length

6. Weight (Mass) – Metric System
Gram (g)
Kilogram (kg)
1 kilogram = 1000 grams
A packet of sugar weighs about gram.
A book weighs about 1 kilogram.
A car weighs about 1000 kilometers.
Practice for Metric Weight

7. Capacity – Metric System
Milliliter (mL)
Liter (L)
1 liter = 1000 milliliters
Ten drops from a medicine dropper is about 1 milliliter.
A bottle of soda is 2 liter.
Practice for Metric Capacity

8. Estimating Measures Challenge
With your group, go on a scavenger hunt around our room.
Find an object in our room that represents about:
1 inch
1 foot
1 yard
1 ounce
1 pound
1 cup
1 gallon
1 millimeter
1 centimeter
1 meter
1 gram
1 kilogram
1 liter
Measure your objects to see how close you are to your estimate.