Scale can also be used to make it easier to measure long distances. For example, you can use this method to measure a large area like a playground or field.

Instructions:

(i) Using a tape, measure out a straight line distance of 6 metres in the school yard. (this is equivalent to 12 large building blocks in a wall). Carefully mark the beginning and end of the measured distance.

(ii) Ask each student to count the number of strides they take to walk a 6 metre-long straight line.

(iii) The students divide the distance by the number of strides, for example 12 strides- 6 ÷ 12 = an average of 50 cms per stride.

(iv) In teams of two, pace out the length and width of the space to be mapped. One student measures and the other records.

(v) Multiply the number of strides taken to walk the length and width of the area to be mapped. For example:

Length of 100 paces at 50 cms equals 50 metres. Width of 80 paces at 50 cms equals 40 metres.

Now you need to choose a suitable scale. For the example above, a rectangle 10 cms by 8 cms would work. This means that each centimetre distance on the map is equal to 5 metres on the ground. This is 1 cm to 500 cms or a scale of 1:500.