Find a Partner

Goal: Find someone who has a hand, foot or other measurement in common with you

	Announce something to compare For instance: Find a partner with the same length index finger as yours. Find a partner with the same arm span as yours. Find a partner whose feet are as long as yours.
	Pair up Children pair up with the first person they find who has the same measurement. Anyone who can’t find a partner joins the person or pair who comes closest.
	How did you find your partner? How did you line up your feet to see if they were the same size? Show everyone how you measured.

Variations

Find the closest (easier). Put children in groups of 4 or 6. They find the person whose hand (or foot) size is closest to theirs within their small groups.

Comparing names (harder). Children find a partner with the same number of first name (or last name) letters. For more challenge, they find a partner with the same total number of name letters (first, middle, and last).

Count and compare (same as main activity). Children find a partner wearing the same number of buttons (or, same number of pockets).

 

Math Spotlight

Aligning—lining up—correctly

As you watch children aligning their bodies to compare length, check that they’re:

• Starting at the same point. For instance, to compare foot length, make sure both heels are in the same place.
• Lining up both objects in the same direction.

Alignment is important for comparing sizes with and without rulers.

 

Everyday Connections

Finding the right size visually

The best way to tell if an item of clothing fits is to try it on. That’s not always possible when you’re shopping. Sometimes, there is no time or no dressing room. Other times, the person for whom you’re buying clothes isn’t with you.

In those situations, a good visual and spatial sense comes in handy. You hold up the item, imagine the person wearing it, and try to decide if it would fit. Are the pant legs the right length? the waist large enough? Tailors are skilled at visually estimating whether something will fit. But anyone can develop skills with practice comparing sizes of different things.