Practice Measuring With This Rain Cloud Craft
In this hands-on activity, you and your child will make a rain cloud to practice measurement.
Learning Goals
This activity will help your child:
- Compare objects using measurement words like shorter and longer
Materials
- Paper plate
- Blue yarn or ribbon
- Scissors
- Tape
- Construction paper
Vocabulary
Nonstandard measurement refers to measuring that does not involve a standardized unit (inch, pound, etc.). For example, your child might measure length with same-size units such as blocks,paper clips, or paper cups (nonstandard units).
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Make a cloud! Cut a paper plate in half to form a cloud shape.
- Make raindrops! Use scissors to cut the yarn in 6 different lengths.
- Measure and compare! Lay the raindrops next to each other to see which pieces are longer and which are shorter.
- Tape! Choose an order for the raindrops, and tape them to the back of the cloud.
- Decorate the raindrops! Cut raindrop shapes out of paper and tape one drop to the bottom of each piece of yarn.
Keep the Conversation Going
Use the raindrops to find objects of similar length. Encourage children to look for objects that are the same length as the longest raindrop or the shortest raindrop. Ask questions like “Can you find an object that is a similar length?” or “Can you find an object as long as the longest raindrop?”
Book Suggestion
“How Tall? Wacky Ways to Compare Height" by Mark Weakland (Ages 4-7)
“The Long and Short of It” by Cheryl Nathan and Lisa McCourt (Ages 3-8)
Corresponding Standards
Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework
- Goal P-MATH 8. Child measures objects by their various attributes using standard and non-standard measurement. Uses differences in attributes to make comparisons.
Common Core
- MATH.CONTENT.K.MD.A.1 Describe measurable attributes of objects, such as length or weight. Describe several measurable attributes of a single object.
- MATH.CONTENT.K.MD.A.2 Directly compare two objects with a measurable attribute in common, to see which object has “more of”/”less of” the attribute, and describe the difference. For example, directly compare the heights of two children and describe one child as taller/shorter.
