Measurement: Shoe Kick

A catchy idea which allows children to compare distances and to measure something meaningful to them.

Objectives

Children ages 4-5 can write or trace numerals 1-10 FM III
ages 4 ½-5 can count to 10 and answer how many Cog. IIIC
and ages 4-5 can also distinguish between shorter and longer Cog. IIIB
and imitate kicking shoe.

 

Materials

Shoes; yardstick with feet clearly marked off and labelled 1,2,3.

Procedures

1. In a large area ask all children to untie one shoelace and hang their shoe from their toes, leaving their heels outside the shoe. Demonstrate. Line the children up and have them take turns kicking their shoe as far as they can.

2. Measure the distance the shoe has traveled using long string or a child's feet or hands.

3. After they have measured the distances, discuss which shoe went the longest and shortest distances (avoid this if it seems too competitive) and discuss the fact that the longer distances are expressed in bigger numbers and the shorter in small numbers.

4. Each child can kick, measure and report and/or chart the distances his/her shoe traveled as many times as desired. By comparing numbers representing distances of consecutive kicks, child can compare own distance.