Purpose: To measure various items and distances with a meter stick and compare them with the measurements attained with “old-time measurements”
Background: A cubit measures from elbow to tip of middle finger, a digit measures the width of the index finger, a span is the width of the hand from the thumb to little finger, feet measures the length of the foot (in your shoe), and a pace is a Roman soldier giant step)
Materials: paper, pencil, meter stick (You may use a piece of yarn or string cut to the length of your unit to make the measuring easier.)
Procedure:
Measure the following, using the unit indicated:
• the width of the shelves in cubits
• the width (front to back) of your book in digits
• the width of the window in spans
• the height of the desk in feet
• the length of the room (front to back) in paces
Data: Record your answers in a data table and compare your data with the data of 3 more students
Conclusion:
1. What problems do you see with these measures?
2. What would you suggest doing to make these measurements more accurate?
