Give a young child a measuring tape and they will instantly understand the joy of measuring. Measurement in early childhood education is as much about the hands-on exploration of tools and technologies as it is about mathematics.
EYLF learning outcomes
Mathematics connects with several learning outcomes in the Early Years Learning Framework. When children measure things they begin to understand how symbols and pattern systems work (5.4). Children can use measurements to hypothesise and solve problems (4.2) in their everyday lives. Measuring things also requires the use of tools and technologies (4.4).
What can children measure?
Length
Measure the length of objects (e.g. pencils, books, or their own body parts) and height of objects (e.g. tables, walls, or themselves) using rulers and measuring tapes.
Long distances can be easily measured by counting steps. How many steps do you need to take to reach the garden fence? How many steps is it from our childcare entrance to the post office?
Capacity
Explore capacity by playing with containers of different shapes and sizes. Add them to waterplay, the sandpit, sensory play, or use measuring cups and jugs in cooking experiences. Show children how some containers have numbers written on them. What information do these numbers give us?
Weight
Measure the weight of objects (e.g. food, themselves, or their own bags) using kitchen scales, bathroom scales, and balance scales.
Time
Observe the time it takes for an event to occur. Provide children with stopwatches or timers to use in running races or cooking experiences.
Temperature
Children can use thermometers to measure the temperature of air, water, ovens, food, objects and people. They can also view a weather report and measure objects using their sense of touch.
Area
An area of space can be measured by laying building blocks or sheets of A4 paper out over it. How many blocks do you need to cover the big blue floor mat? How many do you need to cover the small red mat?
Use technology to measure
Explore the many apps that children can use to measure things, including distance, area and sound.
Interactions
Talk to children about size and comparison throughout their day:
- "We all have bananas, but Lin has the biggest banana. It is huge! Do you think you can eat all that?"
- "I am taller than you because I am an adult. I have been alive more years than you so my body has had more time to grow."
- "Can boys have long hair and girls have short hair?"
- "Do you walk to childcare? You must live nearby. One day you could time your walk using your dad's phone and let us know how long it takes."