Using a Story Pole
Normally, a story pole is a length of board or rod with user-made markings on it. Its purpose is to make accurate repeated measurements in construction. For example, a story pole could be used to make sure cabinets throughout a house are all hung the same height from the floor.
It is difficult to make errors with a story pole because the markings are simple. Compare this to a tape measure, were the builder would have to remember a measurement throughout the project. Also, everyone on the project could use the same story pole and properly hang the cabinets.
Using a story pole. This video is less than a minute long.
For our purposes, a simple strip of paper will act as a story pole. Like a divider, it stores a length without having to know its numerical value. It is a purely visual tool. It's so simple it's embarrassing not to know about it! You could also use a story pole to record the growth of a child. These days, this would be better than marking on a door jamb because people move so often. It could tell the story of their life. The name comes from the height of a building (first story, second story, etc.), not from telling a story or storing measurements, though all of these make sense.