ABSTRACT
Measuring is a practical area of mathematics that must be learnt through hands on, meaningful tasks. A child will only understand what heavy means by lifting boxes of toys, or bricks, and how much containers can hold by pouring water into them until they overflow. The role of practitioner is therefore key, to observe what the children are doing and to intervene and talk through the ideas they are forming. Accuracy is about children understanding that although they may make estimates when measuring, it is important that when using units of measurement they must work accurately. Children will begin by comparing using direct comparison and will then progress onto using uniform non-standard units such as cubes or straws. Conservation is about children using comparison to develop their mathematical thinking about things they encounter in their everyday lives. Childern will learn how to measure time using sand timers and analogue clocks to tell the time to the hour and half hour.
