Preschool math is the best kind of math. Your little mathematicians will love this Fall preschool measurement activity (including the free printable cards!).
Why kids love this Fall preschool measurement activity
We absolutely love preschool math, and so do the preschoolers!
One of the most important categories in math is measurement, and it’s something kids are naturally drawn to.
Have you ever
- Heard a kid say that they’re taller or shorter than someone?
- Followed a recipe with a kid?
- Had a kid ask how much they weigh?
- Heard a child use the words small, medium, and big?
- Observed a child line things up by size?
Those are all parts of preschool measurement.
Kids are already interested in measurement, so when activities like this Fall measurement activity are introduced, kids are immediately drawn to them.
Related: Our GIANT 10-foot Fall coloring page is enormous Fall fun!
Materials
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- Free Fall measurement cards
- Scissors
- Small manipulatives – ex: unifix cubes, pompoms, beans, cotton balls, buttons, etc.
Directions
1. Print off and cut out the free Fall measurement cards – If you want to use these year after year, you can laminate for extra durability
2. Model measuring by taking one Fall measurement card and lining up your small manipulative (ex: beans) from the bottom of the page to the top of the image (we added a black line to the top of each image to make it easier for young kids).
Once you’ve lined them up, count the beans to know how tall it is – ex: “The apple is eight beans tall!”
Use language such as, “I am putting my first bean at the bottom of the paper, and then I’m going to line up the other beans until I get to the top of the picture” as you go.
3. Invite kids to try it on their own after they’ve observed you model the process.
After your child has lined up and counted their pieces, ask them to share how tall each image is.
Standard vs. non-standard units of measurement (and why both are important)
When you are looking at a tree, you might think to yourself, “That tree is about 10 feet tall.”
Or, when cooking, you might look at cut-up apples and think, “That’s about one cup of apples.”
As adults, we use standard units of measurement, including units such as inches, feet, miles, ounces, pounds, centimeters, etc.
Preschoolers typically don’t know how to use those units (yet), so we introduce them to measuring by using non-standard units of measurement, including units such as pompoms, beans, cubes, blocks, etc.
Using silly materials like pompoms or beans allows kids to be introduced to measuring techniques and concepts in a way that makes sense for their age and level.
Just as you can’t run until you know how to walk, non-standard units come first, and once the concepts are understood, standard units are much easier to learn and understand.
Try some of these other magnificent math activities:
- Preschool Apple Measurement Activity
- Outer Space Preschool Pattern Cards
- Subitizing Dinosaur Activity
- Roll and Dot Preschool Math Activity
Let us know if you try this Fall preschool measurement activity
We’d love to hear what you used to measure with and what your kids thought!
Preschool math is just the best, and any activity to get kids excited about math is always worth it.
FAQ
Any that can safely use the materials and is ready to be introduced to counting and measurement.
ABSOLUTELY! If your child has non-standard units down, definitely introduce standard units such as measuring these cards by centimeters or inches.
Instead of using the cards, gather items from around your home or classroom for your child to measure.
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