Elementary Math Help: Teaching 4th Graders Measurements in the Kitchen

Understanding all of the concepts involved with measurement can be difficult for a fourth grader. Making accurate measurements are critical in many aspects of life. Most kids love the kitchen, which is a great place to begin the adventure of measurement.

Ask your fourth grader to help you make a cake. You won't have trouble convincing them, but remember, this should be a fun activity. Measurements are all over the kitchen: a cup of this, a teaspoon of that, a 350 degree oven, and more. Show your child the ropes and let them take over, but watch closely! Too much vanilla might not be a good idea. Be prepared for a mouthful of salt or baking powder when you first let your child help around the kitchen and if you use an electric mixer, keep a hand on it. But before all that, start by showing your child how each cup and measuring spoon is a labeled. This will help your fourth grader in selecting the right measuring tool.

Once your child knows the difference between a cup and a tablespoon, start teaching them what you know about conversions and equivalents. For example, if a recipe calls for a cup of flour, challenge your child to use a tablespoon instead. Avoid waste by having them put each teaspoonful into the cup measure itself. After a couple of tries, they'll be ready to pour directly into the cooking bowl. Give lots of praise and encouragement along the way and when they're enjoying their first meal, remind them that they're the ones who made it and that measurement was the key!

There are lessons in measurement in the grocery store, too. Take your fourth grader with you, but don't just drag them around. Give them the task of weighing the produce and choosing the right size cereal box for your family. Help them until they get it. When they starts to do it on their own, tell them to try to grab the right number of carrots or the right amount of granola on the first try. This will help them to feel and estimate weights and amounts and lend a tactile aspect to their understanding. Don't stop once you've reached the check out line. Have your child watch the tally and try to build an awareness of the relationship between weights and costs.

Before you start to teach measurements to your child, discuss the process. Set some reasonable goals together and designate rewards for various levels of progress and understanding. This will create motivation for your child to learn measurements. Since you will be working in the kitchen, rewards can be easy to create. Set a weekly ritual of cooking something delicious together. Your child will learn their measurements and the whole family will get a nice meal in the bargain.