What A Child Should Know:
- Understand what it means to measure objects.
- Compare and order two objects by lining them up beside each other according to length.
- Use nonstandard tools and techniques to estimate and compare weight and length; identify standard measuring tools.
- Identify pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, and dollar bills.
- Describe temperature using appropriate vocabulary, such as hot, warm, and cold; identify a thermometer as a tool for measuring temperature.
- Describe and use measures of time periods relative to a day and week; identify tools that measure time.
Books about Measurement:
1. This book is called, "How Tall, How Short, How Far Away", written by David Adler and Nancy Tobin.This book is a fun kid-friendly introduction to the history of measurement, from ancient Egyptian cubits and progressing to Roman paces, the English inch-pound system, and the standard metric system. Throughout, the text engages the reader with hands on activities like measuring your height, 'pacing' your neighborhood, making a metric ruler, and determining distances in kilometers. Level: Grades 1-3 2. This book is called, "Mighty Maddie", written by Stuart Murphy and Bernice Lum. In this book, Little Maddie has to clean up her bedroom before her birthday party starts. To tackle the task, she imagines herself transformed into 'Mighty Maddie', and her cleaning spree provides a great lesson about the difference between light and heavy.This MathStart series book is a cute, very basic introduction to the concept of weight. Level: Preschool-1st Grade 3. This book is called, "Inch by Inch", written by Leo Lionni A wonderful illustrator and children’s book author, Leo Lionni describes a peppy little inch worm and his desire to measure an assortment of birds, keeping him out of harm’s way. In the end he needs to outwit a nightingale using his resourceful measuring skills. Creative measuring tools--hands, feet, paper clips—are featured, which can introduce children to the attributes involved with measuring procedures even if they are still working on their counting skills. Level: Preschool-2nd Grade 4. This book is called, "Just a Little Bit", written by Ann Tompert. Pastel watercolors, a whimsical tone, and a lot of animals combine in one of our favorite books about measurement. When a tiny mouse and gigantic elephant can’t quite play with the seesaw the way it is meant to be played, it takes help from a zebra, a giraffe, a lion, and a whole host of others to balance the scale. It is a cute romp and a great introduction to weight and measurement. Level: Preschool-Kindergarten 5. This book is called, "Strega Noma", written by Tomie dePaola. This timeless tale recounts the story of a grandma witch doctor who takes on an assistant named Big Anthony. An attempt by Big Anthony to replicate a spell to create mounds of pasta in a magic pot results in huge amounts of pasta overflowing into the village. This fun story is a fantastic way to explore capacity in your measurement activities. Level: Preschool-2nd Grade http://www.the-best-childrens-books.org/measurement-lesson-plans.html http://earlymath.erikson.edu/4-books-measurement-spur-childrens-thinking/ |
Measurement Activities:
1. Practice Measurement with Gummy Bears
For children first learning the concept of measurement, standard units of measurement can seem complicated and abstract. Using atypical units of measurement, rather than inches or centimeters, helps the process become more interesting and concrete. Gummy bears or gummy worms provide the perfect nonstandard (and yummy!) novelty item for prompting your child's investigation into the bright new world of measurement. What You Need:
3. Growing Garden Pictograph
Help your child to enhance his math skills with this ongoing graphing project. The growing garden pictograph is a fun, simple way to learn about the scientific method, discover nature, and explore counting concepts all while creating a unique work of art. If you do not have a large area of land or an established garden, you can still try this activity with your child. Consider starting a small garden in your yard, a container garden, or even simply growing one plant indoors. You can even pay some visits to a community garden as well! What You Need:
5. Autumn More or Less Encourage your child to compare and contrast a wide variety of autumn-themed items as she learns to weigh the various objects and record her findings. What You Need:
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2. Foot Fun: A Measurement ActivityTo understand measurement, kids need direct experiences with comparing and ordering objects. But that doesn’t necessarily mean sitting down with a ruler. It might mean figuring out which jump rope is the longest, or which ball is larger than the bouncy ball, but smaller than the basketball. This measurement activity uses feet to compare objects, but not the ones found on rulers and measuring sticks…the feet on your child’s own body!
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4. Go on a Nature Hunt!
With the weather warm and toasty, and you and your family heading outdoors, keep in mind that preparing your child for excellence in kindergarten math can be done anywhere, any time. The natural world is a string of math lessons, waiting to happen. In this simple and social activity, children use size comparison skills to find objects in nature that are bigger, smaller, longer, shorter, taller, wider, and narrower. These concepts are not only important for kindergarten math, they also encourage children to become better scientific observers. So find a space to roam—a sandy beach, a wooded park, or a lakeside shore, all offer ample materials to help your child understand size comparison words. What You Need:
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