Paper clips are perfect non-standard measuring units: they are uniform in size, available in large quantities, easy to link into measuring chains, and just the right size to measure preschool-scale objects (pencils, books, hands, toys) without needing too many or too few. Measuring with paper clips teaches the concept of a unit — a repeating standard size — before introducing formal measurements like centimeters.

How to Measure with Paper Clips

1. Link paper clips into a chain of 10–15 for easier measuring.
2. Lay the chain beside the object and count how many paper clips long it is.
3. Or line paper clips end-to-end along the object and count.
4. Record: "My book is 9 paper clips long."

Measurement Investigations

• How many paper clips long is your hand? Your foot? Your arm span?
• Find 3 things in the room that are exactly 5 paper clips long.
• Which is longer — the red pencil or the blue one? By how many paper clips?
• Estimate first, then measure: "I think the book is about 8 paper clips. Let's check."

Frequently Asked Questions

Why use non-standard units before rulers?

Non-standard measurement is the developmentally appropriate bridge to standard measurement. When children discover that the same object measured twice with paper clips gives the same answer — but measured once with paper clips and once with their hand gives different numbers — they understand intuitively why standard units were invented. This "need" for standard measurement is more meaningful than simply being told "we use centimeters" without understanding why.

Related education: Count Steps | Compare Lengths with Yarn | Sort Objects by Weight