Pretend Roller-Coaster Ride

1. 1

   Build a pretend roller coaster with blocks and invite the toy animals to ride.

2. 2

   Introduce a playful rule: animals taller than five blocks may ride independently, while shorter animals ride with a grown-up.

3. 3

   Make a simple height-requirement sign together, showing a measuring line and five blocks, so your child has a visible standard to check.

4. 4

   Demonstrate how to measure one animal. Begin at its feet and stack blocks to the top, then count how many blocks tall it is.

5. 5

   After measuring each animal, compare the result with the sign. Is it taller or shorter than five blocks? Sort the animals into the matching groups.

6. 6

   Now let your child take over the measuring and comparing.

7. 7

   When every animal has a group, send them all on the pretend roller coaster.

What to notice

• Checks whether a toy animal is taller or shorter than five blocks Measurement
• Draws five blocks on a sign to show the height requirement Writing

Tips

• Once the measuring method is familiar, add other pretend rides and measure for each one with a different unit, such as blocks, craft sticks, toy ducks, or hand spans.
• Try three groups: shorter than one hand span cannot ride yet; one to two hand spans rides with a grown-up; taller than two hand spans rides independently.

Developmental benefits

• Cognitive: Measuring toy animals with blocks and comparing the results gives your child practice using a nonstandard unit and sorting by height.
• Language: Creating a height-requirement sign gives your child practice using a simple drawing or mark to communicate a rule.