Measurement

We have wrapped up our in-depth study of patterns. While of course we will continue to look at patterns throughout the year, this will no longer be our focus during math workshop time. It will, however, continue throughout our new writing unit, which happens to be pattern books! We have begun reading all sorts of pattern books, including Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See, I Went Walking, and Quick as a Cricket. We will continue reading all different kinds of pattern books to get ideas for our own books.

In the area of math we have moved onto measurement. We began by exploring length and comparing objects.We found things that were both longer and shorter than our 'space sticks' and recorded them in our journals. Some of us even found items that were neither longer nor shorter, but of equal length. For these items we had to create a separate space in which to record.

We continued examining measurement through other exploratory activities as well, and today we were challenged to order a variety of items from shortest to longest. We had to work as a group to place them accordingly, which required shifting of items as we went along and sometimes even was cause for a little debating! This activity really made us realize the importance of lining things up when measuring to ensure we come to the correct conclusion.

You can encourage discussion and understanding of measurement at home by asking your child to compare objects. Which is longer? Shorter? Heavier? Lighter? Taller? How do you know? Simple interactions such as these encourage building of vocabulary.

*Thanks to Kathryn at kindergartenkindergarten for the great ideas!