Hand Span

Stage: 1 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

2hands

Spread your fingers as wide as you can,

What you have now is called a hand span .

A hand span can help you to find out how big

Is the height of a cow, a horse or a pig.

Use your hand span very carefully and see

How many it takes to go right round a tree.


Now get a good friend and make this a game,

Compare if the number of spans round the tree is the same.

Next find an adult and compare their hand span too

To see if they use more or less spans than you.


Now write down the answers and think as hard as can be,

Why is it better to use a tape measure like me?


Tape measure.


The NRICH Project aims to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. To support this aim, members of the NRICH team work in a wide range of capacities, including providing professional development for teachers wishing to embed rich mathematical tasks into everyday classroom practice. More information on many of our other activities can be found here.
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