📏 Long, Short, Heavy and Light
Class 1 Maths · Unit 9 of 12 · about 120 minutes
In this unit, children compare lengths, heights, weights and capacities directly and using simple non-standard measures like hand-spans, steps and cups. They learn to use words like longer, shorter, taller, heavier, lighter, holds more and holds less. This builds the foundation for measurement with standard units in later grades.
What your child will learn
- Students will be able to compare two objects by length and say which is longer or shorter.
- Students will be able to compare two objects by height and say which is taller or shorter.
- Students will be able to measure length using hand-spans and steps, and compare lengths using the counts.
- Students will be able to compare two objects by weight and say which is heavier or lighter.
- Students will be able to compare the capacity of two containers and say which holds more or less.
- Students will be able to order three objects by length, height, weight or capacity using comparison words.
Lessons in this unit
- Longer and Shorter: Compare two objects by length using direct comparison (placing side by side). Use the words longer and shorter.
- Taller and Shorter: Compare heights of people, trees and buildings using the words taller and shorter. Direct comparison by standing side by side.
- Measuring with Hand-spans: Measure length using hand-spans. Count how many hand-spans long an object is. Compare two objects by their counts.
- Measuring with Steps: Measure length using steps. Count how many steps long a path or room is. Compare two distances by their step counts.
- Heavier and Lighter: Compare weights of objects by holding them in hands or using a simple balance. Use the words heavier and lighter.
- Holds More and Holds Less: Compare capacities of containers by pouring water or sand. Use the words holds more and holds less.
- Measuring with Cups: Measure capacity using cups. Count how many cups of water a container holds. Compare two containers by their cup counts.
- Ordering Three Objects: Order three objects by length, height, weight or capacity using comparison words. Use direct comparison or non-standard measures.
Key words
- long
- Something that is big from one end to the other end.
- short
- Something that is small from one end to the other end.
- tall
- Something that goes high up, like a tree or a building.
- heavy
- Something that is hard to lift, like a big stone.
- light
- Something that is easy to lift, like a feather.
- holds more
- A container that can take in more water or sand.
- holds less
- A container that can take in less water or sand.
- handspan
- The distance from your thumb to your little finger when your hand is open.
- step
- One walk forward with your foot.
- cup
- A small container we drink from, used to measure.
Help your child at home
What to watch for
- A thicker object is always longer.
- Help: Place the two objects side by side with ends together. Look only at how far they reach.
- A person standing on a box is taller than a person standing on the ground.
- Help: Both must stand on the same level. Then compare the tops of their heads.
- A bigger hand-span means the object is longer.
- Help: The length is the number of hand-spans. If you use a bigger hand, you get fewer hand-spans, but the object is still the same length.
- A longer step means the path is longer.
- Help: The length is the number of steps. If you take big steps, you take fewer steps, but the path is still the same length.
Try this at home
- Put two pencils side by side from one start line; the one whose end goes further is longer
- Stand two children back to back on the same floor; the one whose head is higher is taller
- Measure a table: put the thumb where the last hand-span ended each time, count 1 to 6 → '6 hand-spans long'
- Walk across the classroom heel-to-toe, counting each step: 1, 2, 3 … 8 → 8 steps long
Quick questions to ask aloud
- Riya's pencil and Arjun's pencil start at the same line. Riya's pencil reaches further. Which pencil is longer? (Riya's pencil / Arjun's pencil / Both are the same)
Show answer
Both start at the same line and Riya's pencil reaches further. So Riya's pencil is longer. - Riya and Arjun stand back to back on the same floor. Riya's head is higher. Who is taller? (Riya / Arjun / Both are the same)
Show answer
Riya's head is higher than Arjun's. So Riya is taller. - Meera measures her book with hand-spans. She places 4 hand-spans. How many hand-spans long is the book?
Show answer
The book is as long as 4 hand-spans. So it is 4 hand-spans long.
Frequently asked questions
What will my child learn in "Long, Short, Heavy and Light" (Class 1 Maths)?
Your child will be able to: compare two objects by length and say which is longer or shorter.; compare two objects by height and say which is taller or shorter.; measure length using hand-spans and steps, and compare lengths using the counts.; compare two objects by weight and say which is heavier or lighter.; compare the capacity of two containers and say which holds more or less.; order three objects by length, height, weight or capacity using comparison words..
How does MangoMindz teach "Long, Short, Heavy and Light"?
In 8 short parts (Longer and Shorter, Taller and Shorter, Measuring with Hand-spans, Measuring with Steps, Heavier and Lighter, Holds More and Holds Less, Measuring with Cups, Ordering Three Objects). Each part has a picture-based lesson read aloud by Mango Teacher, a quick check, and a quiz built from common mistakes children make, with Mango, a study buddy, for questions.
How long does "Long, Short, Heavy and Light" take?
About 120 minutes in total, spread over 8 parts of 15–25 minutes each.
How can I help my child with "Long, Short, Heavy and Light" at home?
Work through a small example together, such as: Put two pencils side by side from one start line; the one whose end goes further is longer; Stand two children back to back on the same floor; the one whose head is higher is taller. Then ask a quick question aloud: Riya's pencil and Arjun's pencil start at the same line. Riya's pencil reaches further. Which pencil is longer? (Riya's pencil / Arjun's pencil / Both are the same)
What mistakes do children often make in "Long, Short, Heavy and Light"?
A thicker object is always longer. Fix: Place the two objects side by side with ends together. Look only at how far they reach. A person standing on a box is taller than a person standing on the ground. Fix: Both must stand on the same level. Then compare the tops of their heads. A bigger hand-span means the object is longer. Fix: The length is the number of hand-spans. If you use a bigger hand, you get fewer hand-spans, but the object is still the same length.
Is "Long, Short, Heavy and Light" free on MangoMindz?
Yes. Every lesson part and quiz in "Long, Short, Heavy and Light" is free on MangoMindz, with no ads.