Reading a Ruler Game
A free game for learning to read a ruler. A pencil lies along a ruler and students choose how long it is – to the nearest half, quarter, eighth or sixteenth of an inch, or to the millimeter on a centimeter ruler.
Answers are always written in simplest form, like 3 1/4 in, and the wrong choices are the mix-ups students really make.
How to use it in class
- Pick a level. ½ inch, ¼ inch, ⅛ inch, 1/16 inch, or millimeters.
- Measure. The pencil always starts at 0. Find where its tip ends.
- Choose the answer. Pick the measurement from four choices.
- Read the tip. After each answer the game explains how to count the marks.
Classroom ideas
Real rulers
Have students measure real pencils after a round.
Longest mark first
Point out that longer marks are halves and quarters, shorter ones eighths and sixteenths.
Fractions link
Connect ruler marks to fractions on a number line.
Frequently asked questions
What grade is this for?
2nd grade measures to the nearest inch and half inch; 3rd–4th grade to quarters and eighths.
Are answers simplified?
Yes – 2/4 inch is shown as 1/2 inch.
Is there a metric ruler?
Yes, measure to the millimeter in centimeters.
Is it free?
Yes.