Discipline: Mathematics and Measurement; Proportion
Age Range: 5+ (with adult supervision)
Estimated Time: 10 minutes
What you need: Measuring tape, a pencil and paper to write down your findings (If you don’t have one, you can use a string and a ruler or other alternatives described below.)
Instructions: A fathom is a measurement from fingertip to fingertip for a person when standing straight up, with both arms spread out to the side. For many people, their height (from the bottom of the foot to the top of the head) and their fathom are the same! Follow these steps below to see how your height and fathom compare.
Take off your shoes and ask a family member or friend to measure your height while standing up straight. If you don’t have someone to help, just lay on the floor with your feet flat against a wall. Mark where the top of your head is with a small object such as a coin or a pencil. Write down your height on a piece of paper.
Hold your arms out straight to your sides. Ask a family member or friend to measure your fathom (from the ends of your fingertips on one hand to the other). If you don’t have someone to help, lay down with your arms spread wide, brushing the fingertips on one hand up against the wall. Use a small object to mark the ends of your fingertips (on your hand not touching the wall). Write down your measurement for fathom.
Are your height and fathom the same or different? Either result is normal! If they are different, subtract the smaller number from the larger one to find the difference! Write down your answer.
As we grow, our body measurements and ratios change. Adults are more likely to have matching and height and fathom measurements because they are finished growing. Try measuring an adult in your house and see how their results compare to yours!
