Maryland Math 1.GR.A.2

Math1st GradeGeometric Reasoning and Measurement

The Standard

Use non-standard units (with no gaps or overlaps) to measure the length of an object to the nearest whole unit.

Maryland College and Career Ready Standards for Mathematics (2025) · MEASURE LENGTHS INDIRECTLY AND BY ITERATIVE LENGTH UNITS.

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students place matching units end to end along an object, with no gaps or overlaps. They count the full units and use the leftover length to give the nearest whole-unit measurement.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student starts at one end of a strip and places matching cubes edge to edge. They round up when the leftover is at least half a cube and round down when it is less.
Common Misconceptions: Some students leave gaps between cubes or overlap them. Others mix different-size cubes, start away from the object's end, or round up whenever any length is left over.
How to Assess It: Give students five matching cubes and a paper strip cut a quarter cube shorter than their total length. Ask them to measure the strip and explain why its nearest whole-cube length is five.

Lesson moves

Have students line up matching cubes along a crayon, then compare any leftover length with half a cube.
Show two drawings of a pencil measured with cubes, one with gaps, and ask which measurement can be trusted.
In pairs, measure paper-strip cards with matching cubes and earn a point for each correct nearest-whole length.
Measure a pencil and a pencil box with the same cubes, then compare their lengths to check whether the pencil fits.

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