The Story of Measurement

How tall is your favorite teddy bear. Is it bigger than your shoe. How many yummy cookies are on your plate. One, two, three. How many giant steps does it take to get from your chair to the door. When you stand next to a grown-up, they are so tall, and you are growing big, too. I am the one who helps you know all these things. I help you see what is big and what is small, what is heavy and what is light, what is near and what is far. I help you count and compare everything in your wonderful world. Do you know who I am.

I am Measurement. I am a very, very old helper. A long, long time ago, people needed me to build amazing things. In a sunny place called Egypt, around the year 3000 BCE, friendly people called Egyptians used me to build giant, pointy pyramids. They didn't have rulers like you do. Instead, they used their own arms to see how long things should be. They would measure from their elbow all the way to the tip of their fingers. That helped them make sure every big, sandy block was just the right size. I helped them build tall, strong homes for their kings, and they stand there still today.

I am all around you, every single day. I am in the kitchen when you help bake cookies. You use a special cup to get just the right amount of soft flour. I am the little line on the wall that shows how much you have grown since last year. I help you count how many sleeps are left until your birthday comes. I am here to help you understand your amazing world, one tiny step, one full cup, and one big hug at a time. I help make everything just right.

Reading Comprehension Questions

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Answer: The Egyptians used me to build big pyramids.

Answer: 'Big' means something is large, like a grown-up or an elephant.

Answer: You helped me bake cookies by measuring with a cup.