Domain: NC Foundations for Early Learning: Cognitive Development (CD)

Subdomain: Mathematical Thinking and Expression

Goal: Children compare, sort, group, organize and measure objects and create patterns in their everyday environment.

Skill Progression: Measuring

Age: 18-21 Months

Click here to go to all skills for ages 18-21 Months.

Bring out four bowls of different sizes and weights that can be nested inside each other. Have some pieces of paper and a spoon to put in the bowls to stir up. Keep the paper and spoon to one side at first. Nesting requires comparing and ordering, but the child is also measuring what can fit inside (size, amount).

Let the child watch as the adult takes out the bowls one at a time. Watch as the child lifts the bowls and notices the different weights. See what the child does with the bowls. Once the bowls are re-nested, take out the paper and spoon and tear the paper up into little pieces. Talk about “filling the big bowl with all the bowls.”

The child may say “big” or “little” and use other terms as he nests objects.

Encourage activities with “empty and fill” with real objects, not just water or sand.