NCERT Joyful Mathematics, Class 1, textbook pages 72–83
How to teach Class 1 Maths Chapter 7, Lina’s Family, at home
Length, weight and capacity, taught with things you already have at home: a 10-minute activity, a game for the week, a 5-day plan and the mistakes to watch for.
NCERT Class 1 Maths Chapter 7 Lina’s Family: what it teaches
Children compare first (taller, heavier, holds more), then measure with their own body: handspans and footspans. Rulers and kilograms come later; this chapter is about the idea of a unit.
Why it matters later. Measuring with handspans shows why we need a standard unit, because different hands give different answers. That is the reason centimetres and kilograms exist, which your child meets in Class 2 and 3.
See it: this chapter in pictures
You need
- a length of string
- a bucket, jug, mug and glass
- a pillow and a steel tiffin
- a table to measure
Tonight’s 10 minutes
- Line up the family by height. Who is tallest? Who is shortest? Who is in between?
- Guess how many handspans long the table is, then measure. Write both numbers down.
- Now you measure the same table. Your answer is smaller. Ask why. (Your hand is bigger.)
- Hold one thing in each hand: which is heavier? Then count how many glasses fill the jug.
Words to use
- taller / shorter
- longer / shorter
- heavier / lighter
- holds more / holds less
- handspan
- footspan
Watch for
- Thinking bigger always means heavier. Let them hold a big pillow and a small steel tiffin.
- Leaving gaps between handspans. Mark where the little finger ends with a finger from the other hand, then move.
What it sounds like at home
A short example of the conversation. Your words will differ; the questions are what matter.
YouGuess: how many of your handspans is the table?
Your child5.
YouMeasure it. Start at the edge, no gaps.
Your childIt’s 6.
YouI measured 4. Why are ours different?
Your childYour hand is bigger.
A game for this week: Guess and measure
- Pick five things in the house: a bed, a door, a pillow, a spoon, a table.
- For each, both of you guess how many handspans long it is.
- Measure. The closer guess scores a point.
- Next day, try footspans on distances in the room.
A 5-day plan, 10 minutes a day
- Day 1Line up the family by height.
- Day 2Handspan the table: guess first, then measure.
- Day 3Compare your answer with your child’s and talk about why.
- Day 4Heavier or lighter with two objects in hand.
- Day 5How many glasses fill a jug or bottle?
Everyday moments to practise
- Who is taller, your child or the fridge?
- Which bag is heavier to carry home?
- How many mugs fill a bucket at bath time?
- Measuring a bed in footspans.
Quick check
Ask these at the end of the week. Tap to see the answer.
Which is heavier, a cushion or a full water bottle?
Usually the water bottle. Let them test it.
Which holds more, a bucket or a mug?
The bucket.
Why did you and your child get different handspan answers?
Different hand sizes give different counts.
Ready for the next chapter when your child…
- Uses taller, longer, heavier and holds more correctly.
- Measures with handspans without gaps.
- Can explain why two people got different handspan counts.
Activities, wording and illustrations are Mathify Kids’ own, following the topics of NCERT’s Joyful Mathematics (Class 1). See the full Class 1 parent guide for every chapter.
Questions parents ask
What measurement is taught in Class 1 NCERT maths?
Comparing height, length, weight and capacity, and measuring with body units like handspans, footspans and fingers.
Should I teach centimetres and kilograms in Class 1?
Not yet. The book uses body units so children understand what measuring means before standard units.
How do I explain heavy and light?
Let your child hold two objects, one in each hand. Include a big light thing and a small heavy thing so they learn size is not weight.