But measurement is more than that. In this handout, we first consider the basic concepts that form the foundation of measurement, then we examine exact measurement, and finally we discuss estimation. We focus on length, which is very salient for young children, but also touch upon temperature, distance, and time.
Many of the concepts we discuss will not be fully mastered in preschool, but preschool children can develop the foundational knowledge that they will continue to build on through the elementary school grades. Ginsburg and Colleen Oppenzato. General, often intuitive, concepts are not enough, however.
Children need to overcome their perceptual approach—relying on how things look—and adopt a more explicit, formal and rigorous method. Sometimes you need to measure objects exactly. Precise, quantitative measurement involves several features that children need to learn over time, from early preschool through Kindergarten and beyond. Children need to learn to:. Clearly the use of precise measurement is the educational goal.
One pedagogical approach might be to start with standard units customary or scientific from the beginning of schooling, and to avoid non-standard units altogether. Another, and likely more effective approach, is to begin with non-standard units, such as children using their feet to step off a distance, with the goal of showing that this kind of measurement is unreliable.
For example, Harry needs three steps to get from point A to point B , but Sally needs only two. Having established this, the teacher might have children measure objects using an agreed-upon reference object, like same-sized paper clips, to produce reliable measurements. After that, the teacher might introduce children to the use of customary or scientific units.
Sometimes, precise measurements are critical. For example, if you are making bread, you probably should measure the amount of yeast you put in the dough. However, there are occasions in which precise measurement is not needed such as putting a pinch of salt in a stew. But how close is close enough? It depends on context. But if you are estimating the weight of a letter to be mailed, a pound or two can cost you a tidy sum. Instead you need to follow a strategy based on experience and on mathematical concepts.
Suppose you are estimating the height of an elephant. You know from previous experience that elephants are tall. You also know from experience that Professor Ginsboo is about four feet tall. That means that the elephant is about 12 feet tall, which in fact is not a bad estimate.
So the process of estimation depends on experience you have seen elephants at the zoo and on your ability to use mathematical concepts you understand the foot measure so you can add the three lengths of four feet, or you may even know that three times four is Estimation depends also on the idea of approximation and on your willingness to deal with uncertainty.
Estimation may exploit perception you see that the elephant is very tall. But children need to learn that perception is not enough and must be guided by mathematical concepts to achieve a reasonable approximation. Children often crave regularity and tend to think that an answer is either right or wrong. Measurement is more complex than often imagined. Further, to produce accurate measurements and communicate the results to others, you must understand several mathematical concepts, particularly the fundamental idea of a standard unit.
But it is helpful for teachers to have the whole picture in mind as the help them gain their understandings of measurement. This account describes how number develops in the preschool range, from about years, and provides a detailed overview of the various This resource provides a range of ideas that may be useful for teacher educators as they design their professional development sessions and Concepts underlying measurement.
Measurement depends on several general concepts. Children need to learn: the concepts of more , less , and same. Kids need to be encouraged to learn such mathematical concepts through activities that teach measurement. By encouraging them to explore and manipulate objects, they gain the practical experience required to cement their understanding. Sign in. Forgot your password? Get help. Create an account. Password recovery. FirstCry Parenting. Big Kid Preschooler Education. Fun Facts About Florida for Kids.
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