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Measuring Tape Activities In Teaching Mathematical Skills For Children

Measuring tape is a great tool in teaching kids Math skills. Learning how to measure can actually be fun for children when the lessons are provided through enjoyable activities and also games. Beginning with simple tasks that a child can easily grasp and moving on to multi-step problems, tape measure activities boost basic skills and also build children's self confidence in problem solving. Here are some of the learning filled activities that can be used in teaching measuring skills.

You can provide each child with a tape measure marked in 1-inch intervals only. Pair kids so that one child can hold on the end of the measuring tape as they measure. Challenge little ones to be on a scavenger hunt in the room and find twelve items which measure from 1 inch - 12 inches. Then, give little ones construction paper and then ask them to draw the items to scale like a 1-inch eraser and a 6-inch crayon. Play a game of "alien invasion" to reinforce measuring skills up to 6 feet. Start by putting kids in groups; give every group with various lists titled "Alien Description" and the following items "total height, leg length, arm length, hand length, antenna length.

Follow each with numbers in feet and/or inches which will produce a strange looking character. Give little ones butcher paper and allow them to create their aliens and post them on the wall. You could also ask little ones to experiment with measuring circumference. Go for a walk around the school with tape measures in hand and search for cylindrical items such as columns, poles, table legs, wastebaskets and round tables to measure. Back in the classroom, put little ones in groups, give out construction paper and ask children to create tubes of different circumferences and heights. For example, you might ask them to make a red tube 12 inches in height with a 5-inch s.

Give students  measuring tapes with ½- and ¼-inch markings once they have mastered measuring in inches. Practice measuring small items and drawing lines of various lengths. For some added motivation, after kids have drawn their lines, give them lengths of red licorice sticks and plastic knives and ask them to cut off certain lengths involving fractions. Ask them to compare their work with a partner before devouring their licorice lines.

Activities making use of measuring tape are one example of a good concrete exercise which often help children better understand abstract math skills. Combine the measuring abilities kids have learned by encouraging them build a classroom miniature golf course which can be utilized alternately by small groups. Start by making a diagram on paper showing students what the golf course will look like: poster board tubes taped to the floor with painters tape will be precise lengths and diameters separated by certain lengths of floor area. Use measurements which include number of feet, inches, quarter and half inches. For putters, tape empty juice cans whose open ends were coated with vinyl tape to yardsticks. Utilize ping-pong balls to play the game. These kinds of activities are both fun and learning filled for kids.