Anna Nagar

There are somethings that can’t be measured

Written by cpsglobalblog

Measurement applies some of the earliest mathematics that children learn in many of their everyday activities. In play, measurement is already very meaningful, particularly around fairness. He got more than me! She got the bigger dinosaur so I should get two little dinosaurs! He had it for a longer time so it’s my turn again! These assertions all show a strong awareness of measurement. In the classroom and outdoors, comments like, my road is longest! You’re taller than me! I built a bigger castle than you! Your bucket holds more sand than my bucket! My backpack is the heaviest! and My yogurt is colder than my strawberries, are abound.

For such a fascinating concept, our math class cannot be the usual one. Children came to understand that objects can be measured in different ways, even using non-standard units of measurements like paper clips, blocks, hair clips, hands and fingers depending on the attribute of interest. They even learnt to compare and order three or more objects. Eventually our young children’s sense of measurement developed to include new skills by answering the questions How do you know? Can you tell me more about that? What can we use to measure them?

That day in class we measured a lot, a lot of intangibles like understanding, experience, constructivism ….. and much more!

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