Math Adventure Books that Focus on Time and Measurement

Introducing young readers to concepts of time, weight, and length can be as fun as an adventure! These three books creatively weave measurement concepts into their storylines, making learning about time, weight, and length feel like an exciting quest.

1. “How Big is a Foot?” by Rolf Myller

• This story follows a king trying to build the perfect bed for the queen, but his measurements get mixed up along the way. It’s a humorous introduction to the idea of measurement, making kids think about units of measure and their importance.
• Perfect For: Ages 4-8
• Focus: Understanding length and measurement using fun storytelling

2. “Just a Second: A Different Way to Look at Time” by Steve Jenkins

• This visually captivating book explores time from the tiniest seconds to the length of a year. Using real-world examples, it illustrates time concepts in fun, unexpected ways, from the lifespan of animals to how far light travels in a second.
• Perfect For: Ages 5-9
• Focus: Concepts of time intervals and comparisons across the natural world

3. “Measuring Penny” by Loreen Leedy

• In this story, a young girl named Lisa has to measure things for a school project, so she decides to measure her dog, Penny. Using various units of measurement, she explores Penny’s length, weight, and more, making it a delightful journey through different ways to measure.
• Perfect For: Ages 5-8
• Focus: Exploring diverse units of measurement, including length, weight, and volume

Discussion Questions

1. Why is it important to measure accurately? What can happen if measurements aren’t exact?
   • Helps children think critically about precision and measurement in everyday life.
2. Can you think of different ways to measure time? Which would be the most fun to use?
   • Encourages kids to explore various ways we can observe and use time.
3. If you could measure any object or animal in your own unique way, what would you measure and how?
   • Prompts creativity and deeper engagement with the idea of measurement and its flexibility.

Interactive Activity: “Our Time and Measurement Treasure Hunt”

Turn measurement learning into a treasure hunt with this hands-on activity!

1. Create a Treasure Hunt List: Make a list of items to find, each with a measurement task (e.g., find something one foot long, weigh an apple, time how long it takes to run across the yard).
2. Gather Measuring Tools: Equip kids with a ruler, kitchen scale, and a stopwatch (or a phone timer).
3. Hunt and Measure Together: Work together to find and measure each item on the list, making it a fun, active adventure.
4. Record Findings: After each measurement, write down the results and compare them to make the learning experience interactive.

This activity offers a fun way to reinforce time and measurement concepts with real-life examples. Enjoy your math adventure!