Use non-standard forms of measurement as a means of fostering an understanding for the concept of measuring. Provide children with different items to use as measuring tools; blocks, books or toys, for example. Instruct children to use the non-standard measuring tool to determine how large different items are in the classroom. For instance, students may use blocks to determine how wide a desk is or markers to determine how long the rug is.
Measure how tall each student in your class is and assess the results. Print out and laminate a series of squares that are the same size; staple the squares together, one on top of the other and hang them on a wall so that they form a column. One at a time, have each child stand next to the squares and attach a clothespin to the column to mark how tall each child is. Write each child's name on the clothespins. Analyze the squares with the children and discuss how many squares tall each student is. Determine who is the tallest and who is the shortest person in the class.
Make a ruler for each student by measuring and cutting out a 12-inch long piece of card stock. Allow students to use their rulers to explore; encourage them to use the rulers to measure their feet, hands, desks and other items in the room. After children explore, ask them to locate an object in the room that is larger and smaller than their ruler. Once they have found their objects, have students share the items that have located.
In this activity, students arrange items in size order. Set out three different-sized items -- a crayon, a marker and a paintbrush, for example. Have students arrange the three items in order from smallest to largest. Once they have arranged the items, discuss the order in which they have placed the items. Provide children with clay and ask them to roll a small, medium and large snake and place them in order from smallest to largest. After students have an idea of ordering items based on their size, have them compare items in the room. For example, state two items and ask them which they think is smaller and which is larger. Possible comparisons include your desk and one of their desks or the floor and the chalkboard.