Length and Mass

Length

Length tells us how long or short something is.

• long / longer / longest
• short / shorter / shortest
• tall / taller / tallest

We can measure length using hand spans, footsteps or a ruler.

Mass

Mass tells us how heavy or light something is.

• heavy / heavier / heaviest
• light / lighter / lightest

We can compare mass by holding objects, or by using a balance.

Examples

• A pencil is shorter than a ruler.
• A bag of sugar is heavier than a bag of feathers of the same size.

Try it

1. Arrange three pencils from shortest to longest.
2. Hold a book and an eraser. Which is heavier?