Measure Up Scavenger Hunt
Here's What To Do
Cut a piece of string, yarn, ribbon or string the length of your child’s hand. If you’re doing this with more than one child, each child should have their own string.)
Hand your child their piece of string and say, “Let’s go on a scavenger hunt! First let's find something that is the same length as your string. Let me show you how!” Show your child how to measure objects like twigs, leaves, rocks, weeds with their string to find one that is the same length.
Repeat the activity but this time find at least one other item that is shorter, longer and the same length as your string. If doing this with more than one child, remind them that their strings are different lengths because they are different sizes so their items will not be the same.
Have your child line up all the items from longest to shortest, shortest to longest or in any other way your child would like to line them up.
Put PEER Into Action
Pause:
- Facing each other, take a few deep breaths before heading outside.
Engage:
- “Tell me how you found something that was the same length as your string”
- "Can you imagine measuring something even smaller than the string? What would that be?"
Encourage:
- "I love how you used the piece of string so carefully to measure each object. Keep it up!"
- Having trouble finding something that’s the same size? It’s okay, let’s keep trying!
Reflect:
- “What would you like to measure next time?”
Not quite ready?
Focus on finding several items that are either the same length, shorter or longer.
Ready for more?
Try the same activity but with a different measuring tool and compare lengths.
As your child masters this skill...
They will be able to use measuring tools to compare length.