Introducing: Measure

Vocabulary

nearest

farthest

longest

shortest

heaviest

lightest

fullest

emptiest

Hints and Tips

At this stage all measurment should be about comparison 

Use the words above during play and everyday activities when the opportunity arises.

All of these activities are great introductions to measuring and will give your child the understanding he/she needs when more formal measuring of objects begins in 

To remind yourself about all different kinds of measures and to ensure you give your child experience of the different areas of measure, the following pages of our main site may be useful to you:

Real Life Measures Comparing Measures Metric Measures Imperial Measures

Essential Prior Knowledge

Know how to count to 10 competently

Know what equals means

Activity

Measuring Length

It is important that at this stage all learning is done within play. Perhaps counting steps to objects in the park, house or garden. After that compare the nearest/farthest object  

Measuring Volume and Capacity

Beginning to measure volume should be done in a play context. Provide a sand tray and a water tray (not together!) and lots of different sized containers that your child can use to experiment with, pouring sand and water from one to another. This will allow your child to discover for him/herself that different volumes do not always fit into every container.

Measuring Mass

Again, this activity should be set up as play. Provide your child with a balance scale Making a Balance Scale and lots of items to weigh, including plasticine, blocks, straws, fruit and toys.

Encourage your child to weigh things in the balance scale. What does he/she notice? Are the biggest things the heaviest? Are the smallest things the lightest?

Measuring Time

Discussions about the passing of time are a great start here. Help your child to be able to differentiate between things that take a long time and a short time