Measurement with washi tape? Sold to the cute preschooler in blue.
This teaching measurement activity is easy to set up and packed with a punch of foundational math skills like nonstandard measurement, number recognition, and estimation. Measurement with Washi tape is a big win over here.
But don’t let all of that formal math talk scare you.
Teaching measurement is fun and what the kids are doing here is learning through play! – Just how we like to expose them to bigger math concepts they will revisit later.
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Why is learning math through play important?
When early learners learn through play, we take off the strict limitations and allow freedom and flexibility in learning.
Learning through play also allows movement. This is a lot like how we learn to measure liquids when pouring to the lines. When it is playful, it sticks.
Could you imagine a measurement activity that didn’t allow your preschooler to pick up each object? This hands-on learning technique is also great for fine motor strength!
My preschooler pinches each object before placing it on the tape to measure.
Set up this measurement activity in minutes with three supplies.
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- White paper roll
- Markers
- Washi Tape
- Glass globs – or any objects you may already own
Glass globs are small objects, and all activities to be done under adult supervision © 2021 by Days with Grey LLC. Use objects you feel comfortable with using.
For a larger nonstandard measurement alternative, try rocks!
Conversation starters to inspire more math talk
I wonder how many glass globs you have on the football tape. Will you count them for me?
Let’s write the number of glass globs at the end of the line.
It looks like some pieces of washi tape are longer than others. Which line is the longest?
I wonder what would happen if we took the tape off and changed it vertically. Do you think it would still have the same number of glass globs? Let’s check.
To follow up, head over to this block measurement activity, measuring with ribbon lines, and magnetic measurement!
Get started teaching and exploring measurement today!
