Intro
Measuring lengths of items is always a fun learning experience for little ones. Since it's
not yet important for young children to know specific units such as inches and feet, using
other materials provides a unique approach while teaching the fundamentals.

Set Up Ideas
While this activity calls for Unifix cubes, similar connecting cubes may work. Markers or
crayons and paper are another potentially suitable options.

Let’s Get Started
Distribute Unifix cubes so that children can create their own measuring devices. When the
children are ready to measure, you may wish to give some suggestions, or have some
items prepared that you already know the measurements of.

Tips and Tricks
Another option would be to create stacks of cubes at varying lengths, each using only one
color. Have children guess which color stack will equal the length of an object, then
measure to test.

Follow up Activity
Practice patterning skills by creating two repetitions of a pattern using colors, then have
the children continue the pattern. Or, have them create a pattern with cubes and recreate
the pattern with markers and paper.

As the children measure, ask about how many blocks long different objects are. Ask how
many blocks make up their measuring stick, and whether they could measure the whole
object with their measuring stick, or whether they needed to place it multiple times to
measure the whole object.

Steps:

1. Have the children connect a line of Unifix cubes together to create their own measuring
   sticks. Allow the children to decide how many cubes are used in their measuring sticks.
2. Using their new measuring sticks, have the children measure different items in the
   classroom. Some objects to measure may include the length of a table, and even other
   children.
3. If developmentally appropriate, have the children draw a picture of what was measured
   and write the numeral beside the picture to indicate how many cube lengths long that
   item is.
4. For an optional extra challenge, have the children try to predict how many units long an
   object is. Then, let them measure and see who came the closest.