🔢 KG 2 · Numbers & shapes · Ages 5–6 · about 3 weeks Dates: to

Measuring with Hands and Cubes

Goal: Measure length using the same unit again and again (hand spans, blocks, paper clips) and compare results.

For parents: The big idea: units must be the same size and have no gaps. Once children see why, rulers make sense.

Do together

  1. How many blocks long?

    You need: Building blocks or dominoes, a shoe, a book, a spoon

    Line blocks along each object with no gaps. Count them. Which object was longest?

  2. Footsteps across the room

    You need: The room

    Walk heel-to-toe across the room and count your steps. Then an adult does it. Why are the numbers different?

  3. Paper paths

    You need: Paper, a pencil and equal-sized large paper squares prepared by an adult

    Draw three straight paths. Place equal-sized squares along each with touching edges and no overlaps. Count the squares, then order the paths by length. Use paths that fit a whole number of squares.

Talk about it

  • Why did Abba need fewer steps than you?
  • What happens if we leave gaps between the blocks?
  • Which is longer: 6 blocks or 9 blocks?

Words to use

  • measure
  • length
  • longer
  • shorter
  • unit
  • gap

Play (optional)

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wasilearn.com/learn/kg-2/measuring-with-hands-and-cubes · free home learning, ages 2–7