"From Paces to Feet"

Dear Family,

Over the next several weeks, our class will be working on measurement in a unit called From Paces to Feet. We'll start out measuring distances with "giant steps" and "baby steps." Later on, your child will be pacing off distances in the classroom and at home. After making these informal kinds of measurements, we will start using rulers, yardsticks, and meter sticks. We'll be measuring things like people's feet, their paces and their heights.

The more experience with measurement that children get at school and at home, the better. Encourage your child to estimate and measure distances. Typical questions that might come up at home include these:

How far is is across our kitchen table- and can we really reach that far?

How many children can sit comfotably on our couch? How many adults?
Will that extra bookcase really fit in the kids' bedroom?

These are good questions, and they're also very practical ones! Measurement questions come up a lot in our home lieves, and it's exciting for childrent o be involved with these real-world issues.

Here's how you can help during this unit:

* Listen to your child's strategies for measuring.
* Involve your child in your own measurement activities-hobbies like sewing or carpentry are natural for this.

* Work together on the measurement activities your child brings home.

Don't worry if your child doesn't use a ruler accurately yet- it's a skill that will develop over time, with more opportunities to measure. Happy measuring!!