“Why do we measure things?” We posed this question to the kindergarteners during one of our combined math classes recently. It sparked an interesting conversation. We soon realized that having the ability to measure things is actually quite important. One student remarked that there would be no way to put a roof on our classroom if the builders didn’t know how big to make it.
We begin this unit of measurement using non-standard measurement tools such as paper clips, dominoes, magnatiles, and counting cubes. They begin measuring each other, and then we guided them into measuring specific objects around the classroom. When two people measured the same thing, but got very different answers, we all tried to figure out The mystery of this discrepancy. We soon realized that one of them was using Big square magnatiles, while the other child was using much smaller counting cubes to measure. Needless to say, this provided a good segue into discussion of standard measurement, which our curious and industrious kindergartners are now busy exploring and practicing!
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