Look at the inch ruler and note the different sizes of the lines on the measuring tool. The bold or longest lines with numbers beside them are the inch indicators. The next shortest line in between two numbers is the half-inch mark. Even shorter lines are between the half-inch marks; they indicate one-quarter, one-eighth and one-sixteenth inch. The marks in between the inch marks are called fractions of inches.
Set the ruler parallel -- alongside, in the same direction -- to the object or distance you want to measure, such as a length of fabric or the length of a wall.
Count the number of full inches there are in the distance between the beginning and ending points of the distance or size of the object.
Add to your measurement any marks that extend beyond the length of the object or distance you are measuring by counting them. For instance, if the length ends exactly at 3 inches and at the half-inch mark between the numbers 3 and 4, write that down as 3 1/2 inches. The object may measure 5 1/8 inches or 6 3/16th of an inch. Writing down the exact measurement is necessary if you are cutting fabric or other materials to put together a garment, piece of furniture or other project. If you are discussing an object that has an approximate number of inches and you don't need to know the fractions of the inch, it is acceptable to round the number up to the nearest inch.
Practice taking measurements with the ruler to develop this skill. Instruct children to measure the distance from their elbow to the tip of their middle finger, the length of their feet and other objects to increase their skills.