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Measuring with handspans
Joyful Mathematics: Chapter 7
GoalMeasure how long a thing is by counting handspans.
New words
handspan · a hand opened wide, thumb tip to little finger tipmeasure · find how long something isno gaps · each hand starts where the last one ended
Explanation
We can measure with our hand. Open your hand wide. From the tip of your thumb to the tip of your little finger is one handspan. Lay your hand down. Then lay it down again where the last one ended. Leave no gaps. Count the handspans. This mat is 6 handspans long.
Worked examples
A bench is 5 handspans long.
Aarav measures a bed and counts 8 handspans. His father measures the same bed and counts 5 handspans. A bigger hand needs fewer handspans.
Use the same hand every time. Do not leave gaps.
Class activity
Blanket measure. Use a blanket, a mat or a bed. Measure its length with your handspan and count. Then ask a grown-up or a friend to measure the same thing with their hand. Why are the two numbers different?
Practice
1
A rope is measured with handspans. How many handspans long is it?
7.
2
Priya has a small hand. Her mother has a bigger hand. They measure the same table. Who counts more handspans?
Priya.
3
Which is better for measuring a long rope: a handspan or a thumbnail?
A handspan.
4
Aarav's mat is 6 handspans long. Imran's mat is 9 handspans long. Whose mat is longer?
Imran's mat.
5
Why must there be no gaps between handspans?
So that the count is right.