unit – Early Math Counts https://earlymathcounts.org Laying the foundation for a lifetime of achievement Thu, 12 Jan 2023 23:22:33 +0000 en-US hourly 1 183791774 Inch by Inch https://earlymathcounts.org/inch-by-inch-2/ https://earlymathcounts.org/inch-by-inch-2/#comments Sat, 01 Feb 2020 12:00:46 +0000 https://mathathome.org/?p=11890 We brought out the tape measurers this week.  Ah, nothing like a tool in the hand of young friends to get the juices flowing and the neurons firing up!  Playful math! Math that is done for no other purpose than the sheer joy and fun it brings. I don’t worry that they don’t understand the concept of inches or feet or even if they recognize numbers, or have numbers actually facing them!

This tape measure was easy for the children to use.  It was small and fit in the palm of their hands. It could be pulled out without snapping back unless the children pushed in on a button on the side and then slid back slowly rather than snapping back quickly.  We have a few different types of tape measurers in our toolbox, and they love them all.   Children love exploring with tools. The exploration, cooperation and investigation on this morning was an educator’s dream!

 

As the children measure every object in sight, I find opportunities to introduce new understanding and vocabulary. I often refer to this as throwing seeds in the wind.  Some may land, and sprout.  Some may fly in one ear and out the other.  I throw them anyway.  I observe their play and wait to see when they may be ready for added information to extend their level of play to a higher understanding.

We talk about the word inch.  We count the numbers on the tape. Vocabulary words are flying through the air as they play. Words such as longer, shorter, taller, smaller, bigger, and wider.  I see cooperation and experimentation between friends.

This is how they learn.  This is the math foundation.  For those of you struggling to meet standards, this is common core standards for measurement and data. This is meeting the Illinois Learning Standards for Measurement 7.C.   Document it while letting them play.
A discussion begins on measuring the bike tires.  They compare methods, share ideas, evaluate and modify their thoughts.  The children identify objects as “different” or “the same”, “more”  and “less” on the basis of the attributes that they can measure.
By using language for measurement and looking for everyday ways to talk about measurement, data and units, you can help support the children’s mathematical understanding. Bring out the tools and let the play begin!
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