Lay a 14” piece of packaging tape on the
table sticky side up. Place ten
lima beans end to end in the middle of the tape as shown. Fold the top of the tape down, the
bottom up, and seal. Trim off the
ends. Children take the bean
counter and place it on the end of the object to be measured. How many beans long is the object?
*Have children record their measurements.
*How many beans long is the classroom?
*Ask children to find something in the room
that is 2 beans long. Can they
find something 5 beans? 10
beans? etc.
*Make similar rulers with toothpicks, paper
clips, and other flat objects.
Circular
Counter
Make a straw
ruler to measure circular objects.
Cut plastic straws into 1”
segments. Tie a knot in one end of
a shoelace and string on 12 straws.
Tie off the other end of the shoelace. Good for non-standard measurement.
