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Measurement: See

Preschoolers

Observation 

  • Describe the physical setting for this activity. Who is taking part? Where do they sit in relation to each other? What does the teacher say and do while guiding the children’s exploration of measurement? How do the children respond to her suggestions and questions?

Application

  • Which teaching practices does this teacher use to support the children’s understanding of measurement—in this case, using a balance scale to measure the weight of objects? Check the “Know” and “Do” sections for ideas.
  • How does the teacher encourage the children to expand their learning and understanding about weight?

Reflection

  • What might the children do and learn if the teacher provided a basket filled with items that were the same size and weight? How would that experience differ from the one the children had in the video segment?
  • What other kinds of measurement can the children do? What standard and non-standard measurement tools could they use to measure length, height, and so on?

Observation 

  • Describe the physical setting for this activity. Who is taking part? Where do they sit in relation to each other? When the teacher shows the children the huge hand on the cover of the book, how do the children respond? What else does the teacher show the children? How does she encourage their participation? How does she introduce the activity they will do next—tracing their own hands?

Application

  • Which teaching practices does this teacher use to support the children’s understanding of measurement—in this case, how people have hands of different sizes? Check the “Know” and “Do” sections for ideas.
  • What do you think is the goal for the activity? What will the children be learning about measurement?

Reflection

  • After the children trace their hands on paper, what might come next? For example, will they cut out the hands? If so, how could they use the cut-outs to learn more about measurement?
  • Do you think children’s understanding of measurement was increased because of this activity? What would you add to the activity for the children in your program?
  • How might the teacher combine use of non-standard measurement tools—the hands—with standard measurement tools such as a ruler? What other math concepts could be addressed through such an exploration?

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,  School Readiness