Math Monday -- Measurement

Children need experiences:

• classifying, describing and arranging objects using language such as shorter than, longer than...
• describing time and temperature with terms such as longer, shorter, hotter, colder, warm...
• comparing sizes of objects by using non-standard units e.g. line up blocks beside books, count the blocks
• choosing a non-standard unit and using it to estimate, measure, compare, and order various objects
• Use a non-standard unit (link cubes for example) to cover the given area of objects. e.g. How many crayon boxes does it take to cover the desk?

The terms non-standard and standard are often used when describing prescribed learning outcomes for measurement.

Measuring with non-standard units means measuring things with blocks, pencils, hands, feet, etc. As long as the items used to measure with are all the same size, e.g. identical blocks or brand new pencils, they are suitable to use.

Measuring with standard units means measuring with inches, feet, yards, centimeters or meters, using rulers and other measuring devices.

How you can help at home:

Reinforce terms such as: taller, shorter, small, large, lighter, heavier, hotter, colder, warm and variations of the terms such as large, larger, largest, morning. Also afternoon, evening, today, yesterday, tomorrow, week, year