Topic – Construction Math – Reading a tape measure – imperial & metric
Learning Outcomes – Participants will be able to demonstrate the use of both the imperial and metric systems of measurement.
Time Steps Activity Materials
 

Introduction

Heavy construction industry layout measurements use the metric system.

  

30 min

Explain the Importance

Participants should be able to use both the imperial and metric systems.

16’/5m metric tape – marked in feet, inches and fractions of an inch + metres, centimetres & millimetres on the tape blade. It is essential that the metric portion is marked this way. Tapes that are only in centimetres and millimetres are not acceptable.
 

Show Learners

  • Hand out to each participant a measuring tape. Have them extend the blade and show them the two measuring systems printed on the blade.
  • Ask participants if they know the imperial system of measure. If not, then explain the gradations on the tape: show that the tape is marked in feet and inches, at each foot, the marking is in inches and feet: example at the three foot mark, the tape reads 36” and 3F for “feet”.
  • Show participants how the inches are divided into half, quarters, eighths and sixteenths. Point out that the inch marks go full across the blade, the half inch marks are longer than the quarter inch marks, which are longer than the eighth, with the sixteenth marks the shortest.
  • Show participants that after the 1 foot mark the numbering changes to 1, 2, 3 … 11 in red numbers, as well as 13, 14, 15, ….23 in black numbers. So the imperial side goes all the way to 16’ in both feet & inches and in just inches.