Bring the excitement of growth and measurement into your classroom with the bright and engaging Measure My Growth task card resource! Perfect for early years and junior primary students, this hands-on activity invites learners to explore informal units of measurement in a meaningful and developmentally appropriate context.

Students will measure a sunflower through its various stages of growth using informal measurement tools. Each card presents a new stage in the sunflower’s life cycle, allowing learners to visually track and record growth while building an understanding of how measurement applies to living things. This resource is designed to prompt discussion, estimation, and comparison while reinforcing vocabulary related to measurement and plant growth.

Whether you’re looking to enhance a Science unit on life cycles or simply want a fun and flexible Maths rotation task, Measure My Growth makes it easy. Use it as an independent workstation, a partner activity, or even as part of a whole-class discussion with a visual display. The optional recording sheet adds versatility, while the laminated cards support repeated use throughout the term.

Key Learning Outcomes

• ✅ Measure length using informal units
• ✅ Sequence and compare stages of growth
• ✅ Develop observation and recording skills
• ✅ Make links between Maths and Science through real-world contexts

What’s Included

• 6 bright, illustrated sunflower growth stage cards
• Clear visuals showing incremental stages from seedling to full bloom
• Optional recording sheet for students to write their measurement results
• Flexible task format suitable for individual, partner, or group work

Materials Needed

• Printed and laminated task cards
• Whiteboard markers or dry-erase pens for reusable writing
• Optional: informal measurement tools such as paperclips, cubes, counters, popsticks or unifix blocks
• Optional: printed recording sheets for written work or assessment

How to Use

1. Introduce or revise the concept of measuring with informal units, modelling how to line up units accurately without gaps or overlaps.
2. Give each student or pair a set of the sunflower stage cards and measurement tools.
3. Ask students to measure the sunflower’s height in each card and either write directly on the laminated card with a whiteboard marker or record their results on the optional worksheet.
4. Have students compare the stages to see which is tallest, shortest and by how many units the sunflower has grown.
5. Discuss strategies for estimating height before measuring, and reflect on how measurement can show change over time.

Ideas for Classroom Use

• 💡 Integrate into a Science unit about plants, seeds or life cycles
• 💡 Use in Maths rotations or as an early finisher task
• 💡 Pair with real plants or growth charts for a class project
• 💡 Encourage students to draw or write about their sunflower’s progress over time

Top Teacher Tips

• 💛 Laminate cards for long-term use with dry-erase markers
• 💛 Store cards in labelled envelopes or folders for easy setup
• 💛 Print multiple sets for group use or independent workstations
• 💛 Extend the task by asking students to create their own growth cards using drawings or photos of plants

This interactive and colourful activity is perfect for combining early measurement skills with observational science. With its hands-on approach and differentiated options, Measure My Growth supports both curriculum goals and student engagement through a real-world, visual context.