Measurement and Recording

§         Allow young children to compare sizes without measuring.  This helps build the ideas of bigger than and smaller than.

§         When planting seeds, look on the packet.  Does it tell us how deep they need to be planted?  How could we measure?

§         Find ways of sowing seeds in a straight line, without using a ruler.

§         Plant out a garden using squared paper.  Draw it to scale with older children.  Come up with a symbol or colour code for each plant.

§         Look at different plants, flower beds, and trees. Ask children to explain why they think one plant is bigger or smaller, taller, fatter or narrower.

§         Grow 2 or 3 of the same plant and predict which one will grow the shortest, tallest, highest, quickest or slowest.

Length, height and depth

§         Pace out the size of your garden, or distances in the park.  Your child can then compare their measurements with an adult.  Why did they count more paces?  This helps children to learn why rulers and tape measures are used.

§         Measure gaps between rows of vegetables, and record to scale on a plan.  Do they need to be close¸far¸near?  Can they have other vegetables planted between the rows?  Come up with symbols for the different vegetables and record on the plan.

§         Measure the growth of beans ands sunflowers by placing a stake alongside and marking off the height.

Capacity

§         Work out the amount of liquid fertilizer needed for a full watering can.  Measure it out with an adult. 

§         Describe how much water is in the watering can or water butt.  Is it empty? Full?  Half full?  Less than half full? A quarter full?

§         How much does the watering can hold?  What’s its capacity?

Time

§         Talk about seasons in relation to plants and animals. 

§         Make a diary to keep track of when plants were planted and when they should grow.  Tick off the days, or keep a tally.  Discuss months for planting and harvesting.

• Have a timetable for watering plants or flowers.
• Paint pictures on the walls and garden furniture using water and a big paint brush  See how fast the water evaporates in the sunshine!  Will it be the same on every day?  Predict how long it will take to disappear.

Maths words that you might be able to use: measure, size, compare, guess, estimate, enough, not enough, too much, too little, too many, too few, nearly, roughly, about, close to, about the same as, just over, just under. length, width, height, depth, long, short, tall, high, low, wide, narrow, deep, shallow, thick, thin, longer, shorter, taller, higher, longest, shortest, tallest, highest, metre (m), centimetre (cm), ruler, metre stick, tape measure, capacity, full, half full, empty, holds, contains, litre (l ), half-litre, millilitre (ml), container, time, days of the week, months of the year, seasons and loads more!