THINK - MATH
Measurement
Help toddlers notice and explore the size, weight, and length of objects through everyday activities
At A Glance
Measurement is the number you come up with when determining the length, height, or weight of an object. Toddlers are developing their measurement skills when they show you the size of their block tower or ask for help carrying something heavy. We can support measurement skills by using measurement words and encouraging children to compare objects and make measurements.What It Looks Like
A quick glance at ways you can help toddlers develop measurement skills
Encourage Measuring
Make measuring relevant, concrete, and visible, like this educator does. Record children’s height many times throughout the year and prompt them to notice how much they’ve grown.
Use Measurement Words
Comment on measurable attributes like volume as this educator does. When the child fills the container to the very top with milk, notice how the educator uses the word “full” to describe its contents.
Highlight Different Sizes
Offer children materials of varying sizes and talk about how they are different. Note how this educator uses the words big, small, and little to describe the boxes.
SUPPORTING MATH SKILLS THROUGH BOOKS
Inch by Inch
SUPPORTING MATH SKILLS THROUGH BOOKS
So Big and So Small
Activity Cards for Toddler Classrooms
Part of the STREAMin3 curriculum, these activity cards provide simple and fun ways to promote measurement skills
Pretend Play Measurement
Join children during pretend play and point out different measurable characteristics.
Same or Different
Using measurement words, ask how two items are the same and how they are different.
Use Both Hands
Compare the weights of light and heavy materials using only children’s hands as a scale.
Which is Longer/Taller?
Figure out which objects in a collection are longer or taller than the others.
Get Our Resource Guide
Includes questions and activities to guide your use of the videos, book suggestions, and activity cards featured for each of the Core Skills
