Estimate metric measurements

  • Estimation means making a close guess based on known measurements.
  • Helps in making quick calculations without exact measuring tools.

  • Length: millimeter (mm), centimeter (cm), meter (m), kilometer (km)
  • Mass (Weight): gram (g), kilogram (kg)
  • Capacity (Volume): milliliter (mL), liter (L)

  • 1 mm ≈ Thickness of a paper
  • 1 cm ≈ Width of a fingernail
  • 1 m ≈ Height of a chair
  • 1 km ≈ Length of 10 football fields

  • 1 g ≈ Weight of a paperclip
  • 100 g ≈ A bar of soap
  • 1 kg ≈ A bag of sugar
  • 10 kg ≈ A small dog

  • 1 mL ≈ A drop of water
  • 100 mL ≈ A small cup of juice
  • 1 L ≈ A large water bottle
  • 10 L ≈ A bucket of water

  • Compare with familiar objects.
  • Round off numbers for easy calculation.
  • Use benchmarks (e.g., 1 meter ≈ height of a doorknob).
  • Practice by estimating and then measuring.

Learn with an example

  • 14 kilometres
  • 14 centimetres
  • 14 centimetres is a better estimate. 14 kilometres is too tall.
  • 6 kilometres
  • 6 metres
  • 6 metres is a better estimate. 6 kilometres is too long.
  • 4 kilometres
  • 4 metres
  • 4 metres is a better estimate. 4 kilometres is too long.

Let’s practice!🖊️