Chapter 7 of 11
Chapter 7: Rani's Gift
Non-Standard Units of Length: Handspan, Footsteps, Cubit & Comparisons | CBSE Session 2026–27
Core Pedagogical Competencies & Concepts
- Measuring length using non-standard body units: finger-widths, handspans, footsteps, cubits.
- Understanding why non-standard units vary between children and adults.
- Comparing lengths and heights using words: longer/shorter, taller/shorter, thicker/thinner.
All Textbook Exercises & In-Text Tasks (18 Questions)
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Q1
Body Units of Measurement
Name 4 parts of your body that you can use to measure length without a ruler.
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
1. Handspan (from tip of thumb to tip of little finger stretched)
2. Fingers / Finger-width
3. Footstep / Pace
4. Cubit (from elbow to tip of middle finger).
1. Handspan (from tip of thumb to tip of little finger stretched)
2. Fingers / Finger-width
3. Footstep / Pace
4. Cubit (from elbow to tip of middle finger).
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
All 4 valid body units named (0.5 M each)
2 M
Q2
Comparing Lengths • Handspan
Rohan measures his math textbook and finds it is 2 handspans long. His teacher measures the same book and says it is only 1 handspan long. Explain why.
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
• The teacher's hand is an adult hand, which is much bigger and broader than child Rohan's hand.
• Since the teacher's handspan is twice as long, she needs only 1 handspan while Rohan needs 2.
• The teacher's hand is an adult hand, which is much bigger and broader than child Rohan's hand.
• Since the teacher's handspan is twice as long, she needs only 1 handspan while Rohan needs 2.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Adult hand is larger explained
1 M
Inverse relationship with unit count
1 M
Q3
Selecting Appropriate Unit
Which body unit would be best to measure:
(a) The length of an eraser?
(b) The length of your classroom floor?
(c) The length of your study table?
[3 Marks]
(a) The length of an eraser?
(b) The length of your classroom floor?
(c) The length of your study table?
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answers:
(a) Eraser: Finger-widths (very small object).
(b) Classroom floor: Footsteps / Paces (long distance).
(c) Study table: Handspan or Cubit (medium object).
(a) Eraser: Finger-widths (very small object).
(b) Classroom floor: Footsteps / Paces (long distance).
(c) Study table: Handspan or Cubit (medium object).
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
All 3 appropriate units matched (1 M each)
3 M
Q4
Taller vs Shorter
Look at a giraffe and a rabbit:
(a) Who is taller?
(b) Who is shorter?
[1 Marks]
(a) Who is taller?
(b) Who is shorter?
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
(a) The Giraffe is taller.
(b) The Rabbit is shorter.
(a) The Giraffe is taller.
(b) The Rabbit is shorter.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Both identified correctly
1 M
Q5
Thicker vs Thinner
Compare the trunk of a banyan tree and the stem of a rose plant. Which one is thicker and which is thinner?
[1 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
• The trunk of the banyan tree is thicker.
• The stem of the rose plant is thinner.
• The trunk of the banyan tree is thicker.
• The stem of the rose plant is thinner.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Thicker and thinner identified
1 M
Q6
Ordering by Length
Arrange from shortest to longest:
[ Cricket bat, Safety pin, Toothbrush, Walking stick ].
[2 Marks]
[ Cricket bat, Safety pin, Toothbrush, Walking stick ].
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
1. Safety pin (shortest)
2. Toothbrush
3. Cricket bat
4. Walking stick (longest).
1. Safety pin (shortest)
2. Toothbrush
3. Cricket bat
4. Walking stick (longest).
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Correct ascending length order
2 M
Q7
Let Us Do • Pencil Measurement
A notebook is measured using new wooden pencils. It is exactly 3 pencils long. If each pencil is 6 fingers long, how many fingers long is the notebook?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Calculation:
• Notebook = 3 pencils
• Each pencil = 6 fingers
• Total length = 6 + 6 + 6 = 18 fingers long (or 3 × 6 = 18).
• Notebook = 3 pencils
• Each pencil = 6 fingers
• Total length = 6 + 6 + 6 = 18 fingers long (or 3 × 6 = 18).
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Addition/multiplication setup
1 M
Total = 18 fingers
1 M
Q8
Measuring Distance between Objects
Two trees stand in a park. Suman takes 15 footsteps to walk between them. Her father takes 10 footsteps. Whose footsteps are longer?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
• Her father's footsteps are longer because he covers the exact same distance in fewer steps (10 < 15).
• Her father's footsteps are longer because he covers the exact same distance in fewer steps (10 < 15).
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Father's steps are longer
1 M
Fewer steps for same distance explained
1 M
Q9
Cubit Definition
What is a 'Cubit'? Which people traditionally used cubits to measure cloth and flower garlands?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
• A cubit is the length from a person's elbow to the tip of their outstretched middle finger.
• Cloth merchants and flower sellers (garland makers) traditionally used cubits (hath).
• A cubit is the length from a person's elbow to the tip of their outstretched middle finger.
• Cloth merchants and flower sellers (garland makers) traditionally used cubits (hath).
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Elbow to middle fingertip defined
1 M
Garland/cloth sellers named
1 M
Q10
Why We Need a Ruler
If every student's handspan is different, why do we need standard instruments like rulers and measuring tapes?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
• Standard rulers give the exact same measurement no matter who measures.
• This avoids confusion and disputes when buying clothes, building houses, or cutting wood.
• Standard rulers give the exact same measurement no matter who measures.
• This avoids confusion and disputes when buying clothes, building houses, or cutting wood.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Uniform measurement for everyone
1 M
Fairness and accuracy in trade
1 M
Q11
True or False • Measurement
Write True or False:
(a) A handspan is measured with all fingers tightly closed into a fist.
(b) Your desk length measured in your handspans will always be a whole number.
(c) A puppy's footstep is shorter than a horse's stride.
[3 Marks]
(a) A handspan is measured with all fingers tightly closed into a fist.
(b) Your desk length measured in your handspans will always be a whole number.
(c) A puppy's footstep is shorter than a horse's stride.
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answers:
(a) False (Handspan requires fingers stretched wide apart).
(b) False (It can be 3 handspans and 2 fingers).
(c) True (Puppy is much smaller than horse).
(a) False (Handspan requires fingers stretched wide apart).
(b) False (It can be 3 handspans and 2 fingers).
(c) True (Puppy is much smaller than horse).
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
All 3 correct (1 M each)
3 M
Q12
Estimating Length
Guess the length of your pencil box: Is it more than 1 handspan or less than 1 handspan? Measure and check.
[1 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
• For most primary students, a pencil box is roughly 1 handspan long (or slightly more than 1 handspan, about 1 handspan and 2 fingers).
• For most primary students, a pencil box is roughly 1 handspan long (or slightly more than 1 handspan, about 1 handspan and 2 fingers).
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Reasonable estimation stated
1 M
Q13
Word Problem • Ribbon Measurement
Pooja has a blue ribbon that is 8 handspans long. She cuts off 3 handspans for her doll's dress. How many handspans of ribbon are left?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Calculation:
• Original length = 8 handspans
• Ribbon cut off = 3 handspans
• Remaining ribbon = 8 - 3 = 5 handspans.
• Original length = 8 handspans
• Ribbon cut off = 3 handspans
• Remaining ribbon = 8 - 3 = 5 handspans.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Subtraction setup (8 - 3)
1 M
Answer: 5 handspans
1 M
Q14
Let Us Think • Animal Race Steps
In an animal race, a frog takes 8 leaps to reach the pond, while a deer takes 2 long strides. Who has the longer step?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
The Deer has the longer step because 2 deer strides equal the distance of 8 frog leaps.
The Deer has the longer step because 2 deer strides equal the distance of 8 frog leaps.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Deer has longer step
1 M
Explanation based on fewer steps
1 M
Q15
Practical Activity • Blackboard Height
How can two children measure the height of the classroom door without a ladder?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
• They can hold a long stick or rope against the door, mark the top height with chalk, and then lay the rope on the floor to count handspans or cubits.
• They can hold a long stick or rope against the door, mark the top height with chalk, and then lay the rope on the floor to count handspans or cubits.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Rope/stick transfer method explained
2 M
Q16
Comparing Three Objects
A tree is taller than a lamp post. The lamp post is taller than a car. Which of the three is the tallest, and which is the shortest?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
• Tallest: The Tree.
• Shortest: The Car.
• Tallest: The Tree.
• Shortest: The Car.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Tree tallest
1 M
Car shortest
1 M
Q17
Measurement Riddle
I stretch from your thumb to your pinky finger spread wide. What unit of length am I?
[1 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
I am a Handspan (बित्ता).
I am a Handspan (बित्ता).
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Identified Handspan
1 M
Q18
Textbook Measurement • Footsteps Across Classroom
Rani measures the distance from the blackboard to the classroom door using her footsteps. It is 15 footsteps. When her teacher walks the same distance, it takes 10 footsteps. Why?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
• Footstep is an informal unit of measurement. The teacher's legs and feet are longer than Rani's, so fewer adult footsteps are needed to cover the same distance.
• Footstep is an informal unit of measurement. The teacher's legs and feet are longer than Rani's, so fewer adult footsteps are needed to cover the same distance.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Teacher's feet are longer / non-standard unit
2 M
🌟 NEP 2020 Competency-Based Case Study
Measuring the Classroom Carpet
Aman measures the class carpet with his footsteps and counts 16 footsteps. His teacher measures the exact same carpet with her footsteps and counts only 10 footsteps.
Analytical Task: Why did the teacher get fewer footsteps than Aman? Did the carpet shrink?
Evaluation & Model Answer:
1. The carpet did not shrink; its length stayed exactly the same.
2. The teacher's footsteps are much longer than Aman's footsteps. Therefore, fewer adult footsteps are needed to cover the same distance.
2. The teacher's footsteps are much longer than Aman's footsteps. Therefore, fewer adult footsteps are needed to cover the same distance.
Rubric: 1.5 M for confirming carpet didn't change + 1.5 M for footstep size comparison