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    Home » Early Years Science » Preschool Science » Fun with measuring

    Fun with measuring

    Modified: May 9, 2023 · Published: Jul 23, 2012 by Emma Vanstone · This post may contain affiliate links · 15 Comments

    My 5-year-old is always asking how big or tall things are, and me telling him a number followed by cm or metres doesn’t really mean much yet, so we set about exploring measuring with this fun measuring activity.

    I gave him a ruler and asked him to go and measure whatever he wanted in the garden.

    child measuring another child's legs with a ruler


    First, he measured the distance from the ground to his knee.

    a ruler and a plant for a measuring activity

    Followed by some leaves

    Measuring activity

    After that, we measured slugs, spiders, our toes and some blades of grass.

    We then measured each other by drawing lines on the side of a storage unit and measuring with a tape measure, and we even made our own metre ruler using a giant piece of paper.

    What would you measure?

    Last Updated on May 9, 2023 by Emma Vanstone

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    Safety Notice

    Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

    These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. JDaniel4's Mom

      July 24, 2012 at 5:58 pm

      My guy would have loved to join your for slug measuring!

      Reply
      • ScienceSparks

        July 25, 2012 at 12:28 pm

        it was fun!

        Reply
    2. Inspired By Family Mag

      July 25, 2012 at 1:07 am

      What a fun way to get them learning.

      Reply
    3. amber

      July 25, 2012 at 2:57 am

      My guy wouldn’t go near the bugs lol. Neat idea for an activity.

      Reply
    4. maggy, red ted art

      July 25, 2012 at 4:56 pm

      OOoh my son is into measuring EVERYTHING!

      Reply
    5. The Monko

      July 25, 2012 at 8:40 pm

      I can’t wait until Goblin is old enough to grasp the concept of measuring. Its such fun

      Reply
    6. The fairy and the frog

      July 27, 2012 at 6:25 pm

      Love that you measured slugs! The Fairy pretend measures – she makes up random numbers it cracks me up – the other day my arm was twenty-hundred and my fingers were eleventeen

      Reply
      • ScienceSparks

        July 28, 2012 at 12:15 pm

        Ha ha, fantastic!

        Reply
    7. maryanne @ mama smiles

      July 28, 2012 at 9:49 am

      My kids have recently gotten into measuring EVERYTHING – such a fun, educational pastime for them!

      Reply
    8. Bethany @ No Twiddle Twaddle

      July 28, 2012 at 11:50 am

      What a great idea. I love your photos. They are beautiful.

      Reply
      • ScienceSparks

        July 28, 2012 at 12:14 pm

        Thank you. x

        Reply
    9. Coombemill - Fiona

      July 28, 2012 at 10:57 pm

      I love the way you make learning fun

      Reply
    10. Isil

      August 01, 2012 at 3:13 pm

      My 5 yo also loves measuring 🙂

      Reply

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