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Early EducationResources

October Step Up to School Readiness Goal

DOMAIN: Mathematical Thinking and Expression

SUBDOMAIN: Foundations of Measurement and Data Analysis

DEVELOPMENTAL INDICATORS

Infants (Birth to 12 months):

  • Examine objects of different sizes by exploring (touch, pick up, and move objects).

Younger Toddlers (8 to 21 months):

  • Participate in activities that compare the size and weight of objects.
  • Engage in beginning explorations with temperature (quickly touching cold and warm items).

Older Toddlers (18 to 36 months)

  • Use size and amount words to label and compare objects, people, and collections (big truck, a lot of crackers, little baby)
  • Engage in continued explorations with temperature.

Younger Preschoolers (36 to 48 months)

  • Use descriptive language for size, length, or weight (short, tall, long, heavy, big).
  • Compare the size or weight of two objects and identify which one is longer/taller/heavier than the other (“That rock is heavier than this one. I can lift it.” “The snake is longer than the worm”).
  • Use simple measurement tools with guidance and support to informally measure objects (a ruler, measuring cup, scale).
  • Describe the weather as hot or cold (Engage in explorations with temperature).
  • Recognize routines with time passing throughout the day (identifying circle time, snack time, outside play, etc.).

Older Preschoolers (48 to 60+ months)

  • Use descriptive language for size, length, or weight (short, tall, long, heavy, big).
  • Directly compare more than two objects by size, length, or weight (“That rock is heavier than these other; I can’t lift it.” Look at three strings that are different lengths and select the longest string).
  • Put a few objects in order by size, length, or weight (arrange a group of 3 blocks in order from the shortest to the longest).
  • Use simple measurement tools with guidance and support to informally measure objects (a ruler, measuring cup, scale).
  • Describe the weather as hot or cold (Continue to engage in explorations with temperature).
  • Recognize routines with time passing throughout the day (identifying circle time, snack time, outside play, etc.).

Click here for more on Step Up to School Readiness and the SC Early Learning Standards.