Role play areas provide lots of opportunities for children to practise measuring skills, such as measuring the length of feet in a shoe shop, weighing out fruit in the supermarket and serving up portions in the cafe.
Likewise reading stories, such as 'The Three Bears', which involve measure in the storyline or illustrations is an effective way to support children's understanding of mathematical concepts - although, of course, you would not emphasise this at the expense of the story.
Comparative language is also used in traditional tales, such as 'The Three Bears' or 'Jack and the Beanstalk'.
Mathematical elements within a book can be extended by providing story props, such as the food eaten by the hungry caterpillar. These props, together with soft toys, puppets or cut-out characters from the story, give children an opportunity to retell the story in their own words as well as including measuring in their own versions of the story.
Themes that provide opportunities to pack and unpack, make things heavier and lighter and create and compare lengths and heights, will enable children to test and explore their developing ideas. It is important that children have time to experiment, become familiar with and develop a sense of themselves, using and controlling the materials and context.
Observing children in the role play area can provide significant assessments of children's understanding of measure as they direct and control their own activity.
Practitioners also need to consider their role in supporting children's learning in role play. As Anne O'Connor notes in 'All About Role Play' (Nursery World, 6 September 2000), 'knowing when to intervene is probably the most essential skill an early years practitioner needs'.
There are times when intervention is appropriate and it can take several forms. Practitioners can introduce an object, for example a giant-sized pencil pot (from large sheet of card), pencils (sharpened doweling) and note pad (flip chart) in the 'giant's cottage'. Or they can initiate a group discussion about the role-play area and make comments, offer suggestions or ask questions.
There will also be opportunities to capitalise on those moments when, for example, one of the bowls is lost from the three bears' house, the party tablecloth needs to be replaced, or the hat doesn't fit. Children can ask questions such as 'How can we be sure the next one will?'
The following are some examples of role-play themes that provide opportunities to explore measure.
Let's have a party
Resources
* Table * chairs * plates * mugs * real or pretend foodstuff * party clothes * mirror * music tapes and cassette player * pens * pencils * invitation cards * envelopes * telephone * clock * keyboard
Activities
* Children can help make party tablecloth (to fit the table), hats (to fit), decorations/streamers (to fit the walls).
* Prepare enough space for games.
* Wrap a parcel for a pass the parcel.
* Fold the napkins.
The shoe shop
Resources
* Shoes * boxes * shoehorn * shelves on which to fit boxes * real or improvised foot gauge * mirror * cash register * coins * card swipe * purses * wallets * telephone * notepad and pencil * order pads * clock * label showing opening and closing times * shoe size poster * badges with 'helpful assistant'
Activities
* Children can help make slippers/ sandals/shoes to sell in the shop.
The Three Bears
Resources
* Each of the following in three different sizes: bowls, spoons, mugs, chairs, beds, ears on a headband, pencils, notepads, coats, teddy bears with clothes, dressing up clothes for Goldilocks.
Activities
* Children can suggest, collect or help to make sets of other items for the bears' house.
* Children can cook and eat some porridge ('Is there too much/not enough?'
Is it too hot/cold?).
Car boot sale
Resources
* Items to be sold 4trays/planks of wood/small rugs/drama blocks for displaying items and boxes of various sizes in which to pack them * felt pens * price tags * card for labels * carrier bags * coins * purses
Activities
* Children could help collect and make items to be sold.
* Children can choose items to be sold and pack these into their box. They then spread these out on a rug or tray and label, and other children come to buy and fill their carrier bags.
* Choose and pack sold items.
The farm shop
Resources
* Large sacks/boxes of potatoes, carrots, turnips, parsnips, cabbages, onions * toy eggs and egg cartons * large pan scales * carrier bags or baskets * badges labelled 'helpful farm shop assistant' * telephone * swipe card * pads * pens * pencils * cash register * coins * purses * wallets
Activities
* Children could suggest what could be sold in the farm shop, go shopping and experience weight/mass and carriers being filled.
STORY AND REFERENCE BOOKS
Traditional stories
* The Three Bears n Jack and the Beanstalk n Cinderella n The Enormous Turnip
Modern stories
* We're going on a bear hunt by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury (Walker Books, 1.99)
The Shopping Basket by John Burningham (Red Fox, 5.99)
On Friday Something Funny Happened by John Prater (Red Fox, 4.99)
On the Way Home by Jill Murphy (Macmillan Children's Books, 4.99)
What's the Time Mr Wolf? by Colin Hawkins (Mammoth, 4.99)
'Pardon?' Said the Giraffe by Colin West (Walker Books, 4.99)
Where's My Teddy? by Jez Alborough (Walker Books, 4.99)
Happy Birthday Sam by Pat Hutchins (Red Fox, 4.99)
Spot's Birthday Party by Eric Hill (Puffin, 4.99)
Time to Get Up by Gill McLean (Tamarind, 4.25)
Jasper's Beanstalk by Nick Butterworth/Mick Inkpen (Hodder Children's Books, 4.99)
Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell (Campbell Books, 4.99)
Titch by Pat Hutchins (Red Fox, 4.99)
Handa's Suprise by Eileen Browne (Walker Books, 4.99)
Mr Archimedes Bath and Who Sank the Boat? by Pamela Allen (Puffin, Pounds 4.99)
Mrs Mopple's Washing Line by Anita Hewett (Red Fox, 1.25)
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (Puffin, 4.99)
