23+ Hands-On Measurement Activities For Preschoolers

Measurement is an essential mathematical 📏 concept that forms the basis of understanding quantities, sizes, and dimensions. Introducing measurement concepts to pre-schoolers can help them develop important skills such as counting, sorting, and comparing.

By engaging in hands-on measurement activities, young children 🧒 can begin to grasp concepts such as length, weight, and capacity, which are critical for their future academic success. 

Here, we will explore some fun and educational measurement activities that can be easily incorporated into preschool classrooms or at home.

These activities are designed to be hands-on and engaging, providing children with opportunities to explore and learn through play.

Let’s explore in and discover some exciting ways to teach measurement to pre-schoolers!

Measurement Activities For Preschoolers

Water Pouring Activity

The Water Pouring Activity is a simple yet highly beneficial exercise for young children. It helps them develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and concentration. This activity is perfect for teaching kids about control and precision in a fun way.

Materials: Two cups and water.

How to Do:

1. Fill one cup with water.
2. Show your child how to pour water between cup.
3. Encourage them to practice pouring back and forth.

Cooking with Measurements Activity

The Cooking with Measurements Activity is a practical way for kids to learn about measurements and fractions. This activity helps children improve their math skills while engaging in a hands-on cooking experience.

Materials: Measuring cups and spoons, ingredients for a simple recipe (e.g., flour, milk, nuts), a bowl for mixing, and a flat surface to work on.

How to Do:

1. Gather ingredients and measuring tools.
2. Show your child how to use measuring cups and spoons.
3. Let them measure and add ingredients to the bowl.
4. Follow the recipe together, having your child read aloud.

Fun with a Weight Scale

The Fun with a Weight Scale Activity is an engaging way for kids to learn about balance and weight. This activity helps children develop an understanding of basic physics concepts like mass and equilibrium while having fun with hands-on experimentation.

Materials: Cardboard, small buckets, yarn, popsicle sticks, paper pins, scissors, and glue.

How to Do:

1. Roll cardboard into a rod.
2. Give your child yarn to tie on a basket.
3. Place a popsicle stick in the middle of the rod and secure with a paper pin.
4. Attach two paper pins on each end of the popsicle stick and place the bucket on the pins.

Guess the Height

The Guess the Height Activity is an interactive way for kids to learn about measurements and estimating height. This activity helps children develop their math skills and understand the concept of height.

Materials: A height chart and a marker.

How to Do:

1. Place the height chart or measuring tape against a flat surface.
2. Have your child stand against it to measure their height.
3. Ask your child to guess their height and write it down.
4. Measure their height and compare it to their guess.

Full & Empty Jar Activity

The Full & Empty Jar Activity is a simple way for kids to understand the concepts of full and empty. This activity helps children develop their observational skills and learn about quantities in a fun and interactive way.

Materials: Printable sheets with jar outlines and buttons.

How to Do:

1. Print and cut out jar outlines from sheets.
2. Give your child buttons or small objects.
3. Fill one jar with buttons for “full” and leave the other empty for “empty.”
4. Let your child fill and empty the jars, discussing fullness and emptiness.

Small to Big Activity

The Small to Big Activity is a fun way for kids to learn about size comparison and sequencing. This activity helps children develop their understanding of different sizes and enhances their ability to organize objects in order.

Materials: Balloons and a flat surface to work on.

How to Do:

1. Inflate balloons of the same color to different sizes.
2. Arrange balloons randomly on a flat surface.
3. Demonstrate sorting from smallest to largest.
4. Guide your child to compare sizes while arranging the balloons.

Tower Building Fun Activity

The Tower Building Fun Activity is an creative way for kids to improve their fine motor skills and spatial awareness. This activity allows children to explore their creativity while developing their problem-solving abilities.

Materials: Building blocks or LEGO bricks and a flat surface to work on.

How to Do:

1. Give your child building blocks or LEGO bricks.
2. Demonstrate stacking blocks to start a tower.
3. Challenge them to build the tallest tower without it falling.
4. Discuss building techniques and encourage experimentation with designs.

Measure the Worm Activity

The Measure the Worm Activity is an educational way for kids to practice their measuring skills. This activity helps children understand the concept of length and develop their ability to use a ruler.

Materials: Printable sheets with pictures of worms and rulers, scissors, and a flat working surface.

How to Do:

1. Print sheets with worm pictures and rulers.
2. Cut out the worm pictures from the sheets.
3. Demonstrate measuring each worm with the printed ruler.
4. Have your child read and write each worm’s length in centimeters.

Heavy or Light

The Heavy or Light Activity is an educational way for kids to learn about weight and develop their understanding of heavy and light objects. This activity helps children improve their observational skills and understand the concept of weight.

Materials: Construction paper and various objects.

How to Do:

1. Take white sheet and cut cloud outlines for “Heavy” and “Light.”
2. Collect small objects that vary in weight.
3. Demonstrate sorting objects onto the clouds.
4. Discuss with your child why each object is categorized as heavy or light during sorting.

Steps Measuring

The Steps Measuring Activity is a fun way for kids to learn about measurements and distances. This activity helps children understand the concept of measuring lengths and distances using their own steps.

Materials: A measuring tape or ruler and a flat surface or outdoor space.

How to Do:

1. Choose a flat surface or outdoor area for walking.
2. Mark a starting point with chalk or tape.
3. Measure one step with a tape or ruler.
4. Have your child count and measure multiple steps, recording and discussing the distances covered.

Water Volume Activity

The Water Volume Activity is a simple way for kids to learn about volume and the capacity of different containers. This activity helps children understand the concept of measuring liquid volumes in a fun and hands-on way.

Materials: Various containers (e.g., glass, bottle, jar), water, food coloring, a measuring cup, and a flat surface to work on.

How to Do:

1. Color water in a measuring cup.
2. Pour into the first container and check water level.
3. Fill second and third containers equally.
4. Discuss differences in water levels and compare volumes.

Shortest to Longest

The Shortest to Longest Activity is a simple way for kids to learn about length and order. This activity helps children develop their observational skills and understand the concept of arranging objects from shortest to longest.

Materials: Paper straws, scissors, and glue.

How to Do:

1. Gather paper straws.
2. Cut straws to different lengths if needed.
3. Arrange straws from shortest to longest.
4. Encourage your child to practice and discuss length differences.

Cup Comparisons with Water Play

The Cup Comparisons with Water Play Activity is a fun way for kids to learn about volume and capacity. This activity helps children understand the concept of comparing quantities and observing differences in water levels.

Materials: Three transparent cups or glasses filled with water and food coloring.

How to Do:

1. Fill a measuring cup with water; add food coloring if desired.
2. Pour varying amounts into three cups.
3. Arrange cups side by side on a flat surface.
4. Have your child observe and compare water levels, discussing differences in amounts.

Footprint Pathway

The Footprint Pathway Activity is a creative way for kids to explore movement and patterns while creating art with their feet. This activity encourages children to be active and use their imagination while learning about patterns and sequences.

Materials: Paint and a large roll of paper or a safe outdoor surface.

How to Do:

1. Spread paper indoors or outdoors.
2. Pour paint into trays.
3. Step into paint, make footprints.
4. Create patterns, clean feet after.

Size Scavenger Hunt

The Size Scavenger Hunt is an exciting activity that encourages kids to explore their surroundings while learning about different sizes. This activity helps children develop their observational skills and understand the concept of size comparison.

Materials: A list of items to find, a bag or basket for collecting items, and a measuring tape or ruler.

How to Do:

1. Make a list of items to find with different sizes.
2. Give your child a bag or basket for collecting.
3. Go to a safe outdoor area like a park.
4. Have your child find and collect items from the list.

Summary

Measurement activities for your preschooler have numerous benefits, so introducing them to your kids is a must! As they grow up, measuring will not be a hassle for them, and they will enjoy helping you with daily chores.

Therefore, allow your kids to become friends with measurement activities at the right time!

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