Measuring & Volume

It's never too early to introduce your preschoolers to the basics of measuring, specifically volume. It certainly doesn't need to be a long, involved, overly fact-based lesson {and shouldn't be for that matter!}, rather your students will learn more by doing and by observing. Try this simple exercise from Early Learning with Marta and Eaton.

Setting the Stage

Since this exercise requires the pouring of liquids as well as other materials {by unsteady preschool hands}, use the sand and water table as the focal location for the lesson. Begin by posting simple measurement flash cards around the area. These are simple enough to make using word processing software or even a marker and construction paper, but you might also try finding printables {free or otherwise} online like Marta did. Let your students get acquainted with these cards for a few days, discussing the pictures during free play at the station and answering any questions they might bring up. Follow the cards with a practical application exercise. Practical Application

Find several clear plastic tumblers and use these to create homemade measuring tools by marking the sides with permanent marker to recreate the measurements on the flash cards (i.e. one quarter full, half full, etc.). Have students practice measuring to these lines, matching their tumblers to the cards when finished, and repeating the measurement. Along with the tumblers, consider providing several substances for measuring - colored water and pitchers, dried materials (i.e. beans, noodles, beads, buttons, craft pom pons, etc.) and scoops, or even jello cubes, cooked pasta, and other unique {super sensory!} materials!

Be sure to visit Marta's full post at Early Learning with Marta and Eaton for more pictures and ideas!