Knowledge Explorer lesson
Inches, Feet, Yards, and Miles
How many inches are in a foot?
We measure length to find out how long, tall, or far something is.
An inch is about the width of an adult's thumb. 12 inches make 1 foot. 3 feet make 1 yard, so a yard is 36 inches. A mile is a long distance: 5,280 feet.
To use a ruler, line up one end of the object with the 0 mark. Then read the number at the other end.
Choose a unit that fits: inches for a pencil, feet for a room, yards for a football field, and miles for the distance between towns.
What you will learn
- Measure length with a ruler to the nearest inch
- Know how inches, feet, yards, and miles are related
- Choose a sensible unit for a length
Key facts
- 12 inches = 1 foot.
- 3 feet = 1 yard.
- 36 inches = 1 yard.
- 5,280 feet = 1 mile.
- Line up the object with the 0 mark on the ruler.