large tape measure – Early Math Counts https://earlymathcounts.org Laying the foundation for a lifetime of achievement Mon, 30 Dec 2019 23:42:04 +0000 en-US hourly 1 183791774 Portable Outdoor Math Kit https://earlymathcounts.org/portable-outdoor-math-kit/ https://earlymathcounts.org/portable-outdoor-math-kit/#comments Tue, 10 Oct 2017 11:00:34 +0000 http://earlymathcounts.org/?p=10036 I know, I know.  You already have to take a “Safety” backpack outside with you every time you go out with the children, but this idea for an “Outdoor Math Kit” that goes out with you as well is worth the time and effort.

In order to seize the “teachable moment” we need to be prepared.  If a child runs up to you with an earthworm she has dug up and she wants to measure it, it’s never going to happen if you have to go back inside the building to find a tape measure or ruler.  Although we can’t be prepared for every hypothetical math opportunity, we can maximize our chances by creating this math kit, and adding to it, as needed.

First, find a small to medium-sized backpack.  It doesn’t have to be pretty or new.  Pull one out of the old lost and found bin and use that. Label it in some way, so it is clear that it goes outside with the group and that it is for math (and science) opportunities.

Now, fill it with supplies.  This is a short list of the items I would choose, but if you have additional ideas, please put them in the comments section.

2 small tape measure

2 small rulers (or full-sized rulers)

a small bucket balance

several small, lined notebooks

pencils 

a camera (if you dot have a spare that can be left in the bag, be sure to bring a phone with a camera, or the classroom camera.)

markers

 

small thermometer (This is an analog thermometer.  You may want a digital one.)

 

 

 

Peterson Field Guides for Young Naturalists: Backyard Birds - By: Jonathan P. Latimer, Karen Stray Nolting Illustrated By: Roger Tory Peterson

 

small field guide to birds (I like this edition.  It is designed for young bird watchers and costs $4.95)

 

 

and a small field guide to insects and spiders

Here are some ideas of how to use the Math Kit with the children.

Before bringing it outside, introduce the kit to the children during group time.  Take out each of the items and let the children explore them by passing them around the group.  Allow them to ask questions.  Once you gather the supplies back together, explain that the bag will be accompanying the group outside and the children can use them whenever they want.  You can then go through each item, one by one, and provide concrete examples for how they might be used.  Ask the children for their ideas as they will probably think of things that you never even considered.

I would imagine that depending on where you live, there are ample opportunities to look for birds and bugs in the great outdoors.  Even if you have a small outdoor space, there are probably places to dig and explore.  You probably have a few children who Howard Gardner would categorize as having a Naturalistic Intelligence.  People who are nature smart, have a strong affinity for the outdoors and are very interested in human and animal behaviors.  These children may know where to find bugs even when you don’t.  You can support these observations by using the field guide books to help in identifying the species and the names.  Encourage the children to draw pictures of what they find, take pictures of the bugs or birds, and then help the children think of ways to document their experiences.  Keeping records of their discoveries is a great way to encourage early math skills. Have the children keep count of how many they have found using tally marks, and then how many of each species.  That way they need to think of sets and subsets.  They can sort their categories by attributes (brown birds, red birds, small birds, big birds).  This will also encourage them to categorize their discoveries as they look for similarities and differences.

Use the outdoor thermometer to chart the temperature.  Begin using the thermometer simply.  Have the children look at the gauge and show them how to read the temperature.  Older children will have an easier time with this.  For younger children, you can use permanent markers to show where the “hot,” “warm,” “cool,” and “cold” ranges are.  That way, if they can’t yet read the thermometer, they can tell the range of the temperature.  Keep a daily record of the temperature in one to the little notebooks.

Use the tape measures and the rulers to measure all sorts of outdoor stuff.  Encourage the children to use these tools whenever an opportunity arises.  You may have to remind them that you have these tools in the math backpack and suggest some measurement ideas from time to time.  It might be fun to bring out a longer tape measure and try to measure things like how high the children swing, or how far they can jump. Make accurate records of these measurements in the notebooks and help the children compare the numbers.  Who jumped the furthest?  Who swung the highest?

What other ideas do you have for your Outdoor Math Kit?  Send them along!  See you on the playground.

 

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IELDS – Goal 7, Learning Standards B and C https://earlymathcounts.org/ields-goal-7-learning-standards-b-and-c/ https://earlymathcounts.org/ields-goal-7-learning-standards-b-and-c/#respond Tue, 09 Apr 2013 11:00:58 +0000 http://www.mathathome.org/blog1/?p=1499 Learning Standards B and C continue to describe the state expectations for young children and early measurement concepts.

Learning Standard B – Begin to make estimates of measurements.

Benchmarks

7.B.ECa  Practice estimating in everyday play and solving everyday measurement problems.

Example Performance Descriptors

Make predictions and estimations during play (e.g., estimate how many scoops of sand it will take to fill a small bucket at the sand table).

Estimate to solve a task (e.g., during block play, estimate how many blocks are needed to make the road being constructed reach the wall).

WOW!  I wish this one had performance descriptors that indicated development over time.  Knowing that it will take 3 buckets of sand to fill a large container requires a certain amount of conservation.  A child needs to know that when put together, the 3 buckets are about the same as the large container.  If Piaget was even close to being right about a young child’s ability to conserve quantity, then this task is not very developmentally appropriate.

Now if the descriptor said, “Estimate if it will take many buckets to fill the sand table, or only a few buckets to fill the sand table” we might see children more able to “estimate” the quantity (if indeed estimation of measurement is the expectation).

What do you think?  Can your kids tell you about how many blocks they will need to construct a road across the rug?

Learning Standard C – Explore tools used for measurement

Benchmarks

7.C.ECa  Explore the use of standard instruments to measure objects and quantities with teacher assistance.

Example Performance Indicators

Use standards measuring tools, with teacher assistance (e.g., use a measuring tape to measure how far a child can jump).

Use a variety of similar tools for measurement (e.g., use both balance scales and scales that provide a numerical weight to explore objects in the classroom).

Know that thermometers measure temperature and clocks measure time.

I like this one better than the last.  As least it leaves room for developmental variability and allows for adult assistance.  A tape measure is a great classroom tool, that is pretty interesting in and of itself (just pulling it out and then releasing it) so as a tool is is engaging. Measuring with it and understanding what that means is a bit more complicated. However,  within the construct of play, I can see children using the tape measure in the was it is meant to be used.

Balance scales and other kinds of scales are also really wonderful measurement tools for the classroom. Trying to get a balance scale to “balance” is a fun task for children and and “weighing” things (especially themselves if you have a bathroom scale in the classroom)is also developmentally appropriate.

They make all of these things so they are easy-to-use with large numbers and clear indicators for young children.  Making these tools available throughout the day, during play, will allow children to get comfortable with them  and will give them opportunities to explore their functions.

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Measure for Measure https://earlymathcounts.org/measure-for-measure/ https://earlymathcounts.org/measure-for-measure/#respond Wed, 03 Apr 2013 11:00:23 +0000 http://www.mathathome.org/blog1/?p=1504 This article is just a wonderful way to consider how children think about measurement and what that means for us.  I hope it makes you smile as much as I did.

tape measure b and w

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Large Measuring Tape https://earlymathcounts.org/large-measuring-tape/ https://earlymathcounts.org/large-measuring-tape/#comments Mon, 01 Apr 2013 11:00:33 +0000 http://www.mathathome.org/blog1/?p=1457 Large Tape MeausreWhen you are married to a landscaper (or contractor, or builder) there are always tape measures lying around.  My boys loved playing with tape measures, but I could never take my eyes off of them for a second, because a real tape measure releases really quickly and can snap back on small hands, fingers, or eyes.  They can also be sharp with metal edges.

The tape measure shown above is soft and rolls back up with a turn of a knob.  It shows both inches and centimeters and has a nice 1 inch width with easy-to-read numbers. These tape measures can be used to measure all sorts of things in the classroom, as long as they are less than 5 feet long.  That means that children can measure their heights (unless you have some extraordinarily huge three year olds in your program).  They can measure furniture, rug space, the edge of a desk, and the width of the easel.  Remind children that inches and centimeters are standard units of measure, and that they are the same everywhere in the world

Try to give children a place to record their measurements, and help them write them down.  They can copy the numbers they see on the tape measure which will reinforce their sense of number as well as support their fine motor skills.

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