Big, Bigger, Biggest, Small, Smaller, smallest

This measurement activity can be easily adapted to any theme.  The theme we were involved with at this time was "Fairy Tales and Nursery Rhymes".

• thematic pictures in three sizes (for Fairy tales and Nursery Rhymes we had pictures of: a witch, spider, and frog)
• background paper with the headings "big, bigger, biggest and small, smaller, smallest" for students to glue the pictures on to (we did this theme near the beginning of the year, near the end of the year I would expect the students to print the headings)
• scissors
• glue
• gel pens (optional - we used them to highlight, and it was a great incentive)

When students visit this centre they: (1)choose a character to work with (2) decide whether they want to describe the character as small or big, (3) highlight the pictures with the gel pens, (4) cut out the pictures, (5) order the pictures in ascending or descending order, depending on whether they chose big, bigger, biggest, or small, smaller, smallest, and (6) read the measurement words to someone in the class.

We read quite a few nursery rhymes and Fairy Tales before we experienced this centre. In our story discussions we talked about comparative size.  Some students were confused at first with the choice of using big, bigger, biggest or small, smaller, smallest.  In their minds the picture had to belong in one or the other, it couldn't belong in both!  It was a pleasure to see the "Aha!" in their eyes when they realized that size was relative!