How to Teach Non-Standard Measurement to Preschoolers

📏 Learning Objectives

• 🎓 Define Non-Standard Measurement: Understanding measurement using everyday objects instead of standard tools.
• 🤝 Develop Comparison Skills: Comparing the lengths, heights, and weights of different objects.
• 🖐️ Enhance Estimation Abilities: Making educated guesses about the size and quantity of objects.

🧸 Materials Needed

• 🧱 Variety of Objects: Blocks, crayons, books, toys, etc.
• 📃 Paper and Markers: For recording measurements.
• 🧺 Containers: Different sized containers for volume activities.

☀️ Warm-up Activity (5 minutes)

Objective: Engage children and introduce the concept of comparison.

• 🍎 Activity: Ask children to compare their hands. Who has bigger/smaller hands?
• 🗣️ Discussion: Talk about how we can tell which is bigger or smaller.

🖐️ Main Instruction

Activity 1: Length Measurement

• 🧸 Instructions: Use blocks to measure the length of a book.
• 📝 Example: "The book is 5 blocks long!"

Activity 2: Height Measurement

• 🦒 Instructions: Use crayons to measure the height of a toy.
• 📊 Example: "The toy is 8 crayons tall!"

Activity 3: Volume Measurement

• 💧 Instructions: Use scoops to fill different containers with sand or water.
• 🧪 Example: "The small container needs 3 scoops, and the big container needs 6 scoops!"

✅ Assessment

Objective: Determine if children understand the concept of non-standard measurement.

• ❓ Question 1: Can you measure the table using your hands? How many hands long is it?
• ❓ Question 2: Which is heavier, a book or a crayon? How can you tell?
• ❓ Question 3: Which container holds more water, a cup or a bowl? How do you know?