Another fun activity with Unifix Cubes is using it as a measuring device. This is a good start for toddlers and kids to be familiar with the concept of measurements and units. What makes this fun is they get to measure familiar objects around them.
The measuring activity is suggested in the Unifix Cubes Activity Booklet as estimation. Estimation is an important math skill that strengthens the child’s number concepts. According to a math education researcher, John A. Van de Walle, estimation is a higher-level skill that requires students to be able to conceptualize and mentally manipulate numbers.
In the real world, we make estimates as we make the family budget, or estimate the time needed to finish certain task. A good estimate will help us also predict certain outcomes which doesn’t have the facts yet and enables us to act earlier and plan ahead instead of waiting for all the variables to be complete and exact.
Remember the movies about asteroids about to hit the earth? Geeks in those movies would usually come up with a ball park figure first on when the asteroid would hit earth Based on this estimate, the leaders of the world would be able to make preparations earlier rather than wait for the geeks to compute for the exact time the end of the world would happen. That geek can be your child someday who can save earth from destruction. Eheheh…
But before I let Gab make estimates, I would let him be familiar with making measurements. After measuring 2-3 objects using his Unifix Cubes, I let him start making guesses. I don’t expect him to be very close to the actual value but we have fun doing it. Sometimes, he intentionally makes up a crazy number just for a good laugh.
In doing measurements with Unifix Cubes, a worksheet or printable is not needed. You can simply grab any object around and start making the measurements. Start with regular objects first like boxes and rods. They are easier to measure. Or you can start with body parts especially the foot. Gab makes a lot of giggles when we do this one.
Here are some common items you can measure using Unifix Cubes:
- Writing materials like pens, pencils and crayons
- Milk cartons
- Food packaging like boxes and foil packs
- Toys
- Shoes
- Fruits and vegetables
- Books
- Paper cutouts or strips
- Body parts like feet, hands, and fingers
- Gadgets like phones, tables, laptops
But what if you don’t have Unifix Cubes? That should not be a problem. Be creative. You can use any object as a measuring device as long as you have many of them and they are about the same size. Or you can simply use a ruler.
Below are some items you can use as a measuring device if you don’t have a Unifix Cubes.
- coins of the same denomination
- wooden blocks
- bottlecaps
- candies like M&Ms or pretzel sticks. The child can even eat it afterwards as a reward
- matches or toothpicks but be extra careful in using them
- poker chips or similar rounded objects
- dominoes
- Scrabble letters
For Gab, I took pictures of his toys and arranged them in a document. It also serves as a treasure hunt since Gab would look for his toys first before he gets to measure it. That’s twice the fun.
You can check out the measuring worksheet I prepared for Gab for an idea on measuring activities. Have fun and enjoy.
Unifix Cubes Measuring Activity Worksheet 1
Unifix Cubes Measuring Activity Worksheet 2
