It is a process of collecting information about the earth's surface. Taping is frequently used. Most surveyors' tapes are made of steel ribbon with a favoured length being 100m.
Metal tapes suffer from kinks and are easily broken.
Non-metallic tapes are woven from synthetic yarns with or without metallic threads. These tapes are strong and wear well but can be subject to errors due to temperature and moisture changes. Many modern tapes are made of durable 'plastic' or fibreglass and these will probably be the type available for use in your school. All tapes need to be handled with care. A stadia is a graduated measuring rod that is held vertically at a location whose distance is required to be known.