Measuring Up!

We can learn about the world around us by taking measurements. Different tools help us make different kinds of measurements. Here are a few tools for measuring.
Thermometer

A thermometer measures temperature. It tells us how hot or cold something is.
Scale

A scale measures weight. It tells us how much something weighs. Which of these two loads is heavier?
Ruler

A ruler measures length. It tells us how long or short something is. How many inches long is this eraser?
Clock

A clock measures time in hours and minutes. The round clock is analog
analog
ARIEL SKELLEY/GETTY IMAGES
a type of clock or watch with hands that point to the time
(adjective)
In school I am learning how to tell time on an analog clock.
. It has hands that move. They point at the numbers to show the time. The black clock is digital
digital
YIPENGGE/GETTY IMAGES
a type of clock or watch that shows the time with numbers instead of hour and minute hands
(adjective)
My digital alarm clock wakes me up every morning.
. It has only numbers.
Did You Know?

This is a sundial
sundial
ISTOCK/GETTY IMAGES PLUS
a device that uses the sun to tell time
(noun)
My grandmother has a sundial in her garden.
. It is one of the oldest tools for telling time. A sundial has markings. They stand for the hours of daylight. It also has a pointer. The pointer casts a shadow. The shadow moves as the sun moves. This is one way people could tell time long ago.