Make a Kid-Friendly Bouquet of Pretty Paper Flowers
Try this simple flower craft to practice measuring length with your little one. Use the opportunity to discuss the history of paper flowers in Mexico (and beyond) as you unfold tissue paper and watch your child's curiosity blossom.
Learning Goals
This flower craft activity will help your child:
- Use nonstandard measurement to measure an object's length
- Make comparisons between several objects based on a single attribute
- Talk about measurable attributes
Materials
- Pipe cleaners
- Colorful tissue paper
- Cup or vase
Vocabulary
- An attribute is a quality, characteristic or property that describes an object. In measurement, attribute refers to a measurable dimension such as length, weight or volume.
- Nonstandard measurement refers to measuring that does not involve a standardized unit (inch, pound, etc.). For example, your child might measure length with same-size units such as blocks, paper clips or paper cups (nonstandard units).
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Create the flower stems. Use pipe cleaners to make flower stems of varying lengths. You can tie two together to make a long stem or bend one to make a short stem.
2. Measure your pipe cleaner stems. Use nonstandard tools like same-size paper clips or blocks to measure the stem lengths. Ask your child, "How many paper clips long is each flower stem? Which flower stem is the longest? Which flower stem is the shortest?" Compare the sizes and arrange them from shortest to longest.
3. Make your flower petals. Cut out six squares of colorful tissue paper and layer them together. Fold them back and forth like an accordion. Tie the end of your pipe cleaner stem around the middle of your accordion tissue paper. Then, open and spread the layers of your tissue paper to make the flower bloom. Repeat and make a different-sized flower for each stem.
4. Plant your flowers in a cup or vase. Compare the sizes of your flowers. Ask your child, "Which flower is the tallest? Which flower is the widest? Which flower is the smallest? How do you know?" Use a ruler to measure the flowers.
Keep the Conversation Going
Plant some real flowers in a yard or a pot and measure them with a ruler to see how long they grow. How many inches do they start at, and how many inches do they grow every month?
Book Suggestions
"Inch by Inch" / "Pulgada a Pulgada" (Ages 2-5)
By Leo Lionni
In this picture book, your child will enjoy following a little inchworm who can measure just about anything under the sun. When a hungry bird threatens to eat the worm for breakfast, measuring the bird's song becomes an interesting dilemma.
Corresponding Standards
California Preschool Learning Foundations
Head Start Early Learning Outcome Framework
- Goal P-MATH 8. Child measures objects by their various attributes using standard and nonstandard measurement. Uses differences in attributes to make comparisons.
California Common Core State Standards
- CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.MD.A.1Describe measurable attributes of objects, such as length or weight. Describe several measurable attributes of a single object.
- CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.MD.A.2 Directly compare two objects with a measurable attribute in common, to see which object has "more of"/"less of" the attribute, and describe the difference. For example, directly compare the heights of two children and describe one child as taller/shorter.
