Let’s Measure Flowers

Description
Bring measurement lessons to life with the bright and tactile Let's Measure Flowers activity! This engaging resource allows students to practise using informal units to compare and measure length, developing foundational maths skills through hands-on exploration.
With a variety of flowers featuring stems of different lengths, students are invited to choose their own non-standard measurement tool and get measuring. Suggested tools include paperclips, cubes, counters, paddle pop sticks, or any classroom manipulative that allows for consistent comparison. This activity encourages students to make choices, estimate, measure and then reflect on their results as they develop mathematical reasoning skills.
This resource is highly versatile and can be used in a range of classroom contexts. While it’s perfect for measuring and recording on paper, it also lends itself to hands-on sensory play. Consider cutting out the flower heads and attaching them to straws, pipe cleaners or dowel sticks of varying lengths. These can then be placed in a tub of sand, rice or another sensory material to create a class flower garden where students can explore, compare and sort by height.
Key Learning Outcomes
- ✅ Measure and compare objects using informal units
- ✅ Use comparative vocabulary such as taller, shorter, longest and smallest
- ✅ Practise selecting appropriate measurement tools and using them consistently
- ✅ Develop observation and problem-solving skills through open-ended play
What’s Included
- A collection of printable flower cards with varying stem lengths
- Measurement recording sheet for students to note their unit choice and flower lengths
- Extension suggestions for comparison, ordering and creating a flower display
Materials Needed
- Printed flower cards (optional to laminate for durability)
- Classroom manipulatives to act as informal units (e.g. unifix cubes, paperclips, blocks, pencils)
- Scissors and glue (if assembling flower stems)
- Optional: sensory tub filled with sand or rice, straws or pipe cleaners for 3D display
How to Use
- Introduce the concept of measuring with informal units and provide examples of possible tools.
- Distribute the flower cards and allow students to select a tool of their choice to measure each one.
- Students record their measurement results on the provided sheet.
- Encourage students to order the flowers from shortest to tallest, either visually or with numerical data.
- Extend the task by modifying the units, measuring the same flowers again and comparing results.
Ideas for Classroom Use
- 💡 Use during a measurement rotation or as a hands-on Maths centre
- 💡 Combine with a spring or garden theme for cross-curricular connections
- 💡 Create a whole-class collaborative flower garden with students' measured flowers on display
- 💡 Use real classroom materials (e.g. rulers, pencils) to transition from informal to formal units
Top Teacher Tips
- 💛 Print the flower cards on coloured paper or card to make them stand out during group work
- 💛 Use the flower heads alone and attach to varied-length stems for a hands-on garden experience
- 💛 Laminate cards and use dry-erase markers so students can measure and record repeatedly
- 💛 Encourage peer discussion about unit choice and strategies for consistent measurement
Let's Measure Flowers offers a meaningful and creative way to build measurement confidence through play and practical exploration. Whether used as a worksheet task or an interactive classroom display, this resource will inspire curious minds and provide plenty of mathematical discussion opportunities.
Additional information
Australian Curriculum Code | AC9M1M01, AC9MFM01 |
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File Format |
Australian Curriculum V9
F - 6
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