Measurement Activities for Grades K - 2

These activities will help your child develop measurement, an important "strand" or math theme tested in the WASL math activities.

Measurement Activities - Use the following links to see the activity.
Order Objects Compare Content Amounts Use a Calendar
Money Match How Far? Weighing In

(Activities taken from Mathematics a Guide for Parents to Everyday Mathematics and Helping Your Child at Home Grades K-6, published by Central Kitsap School District Department of Curriculum and Instruction, 2000.)

Order Objects

  • Have your child put objects in order by height. You can help by asking questions such as, "Which is the tallest?" or "Which is the shortest?" He/she can also arrange items by weight. Ask your child to hold objects and compare weights. Another easier way is to read the label for weight. Ask your child to arrange them items from heaviest to lightest or from lightest to heaviest. Grocery items work well for this activity.
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Compare Content Amounts

  • By filling and emptying a variety of containers, your child can compare content amounts. Start with two empty containers, say a bowl and a soda bottle. Bill one with water. Ask your child questions such as, "If you pour the contents of the full container into the empty container, will it all fit? Will it overflow? Which hold more?" Experiment with several sizes.
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Use a Calendar

  • Have your child determine days and dates of activities, then propose a problem to solve. For example, "How many days until your soccer game?" Or, "Your grandma is coming to visit us on the twelfth. How many days before she gets here? Take advantage of your daily schedule of events.
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Money Match

  • To play Money Match, you'll need a die, 10 of each coin (penny, nickel, dime) and 6 quarters. For 5- and 6-year-olds, use only two different coins (i.e. pennies and nickels). Older children can use all coins. The object of the game is to be the first player to earn a set amount (i.e., 10 or 20 cents). The first player rolls the die and collects the number of pennies shown on the die. Players take turns rolling the die to collect additional coins. As a player collects five pennies or more, the five pennies are traded in for a nickel. Nickels can be traded for dimes and, for older children, nickels and dimes can be traded for quarters. The first player to reach the set amount wins.
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How Far?

  • While running errands or visiting friends or relatives, ask our child to guess how far you are traveling and how long it will take?
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Weighing In

  • When at the grocery store, help your child examine the produce scale. You can gather the produce you are purchasing and estimate the weight of each item before weighing it.
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