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Stick measuring

How many sticks long is a bench? Use a stick as a ruler and measure the world around you.

  • 15 min total
  • Low mess
  • Ages 3–5*
  • Outdoors
  • Any season
Let's do this

*Illustrative age guidance. Your child's development and circumstances matter more than a number.

A tiny plan for your day

Estimated time: 3 min to find sticks · 10 min to measure · 2 min to tidy. It's fine to stop early.

Before you start

What you’ll need

  • A short stick and a long stick, smooth and checked by an adult

Let's begin

Four simple steps

That's the whole activity. Tick each step off as you go, and stop whenever you like.

  1. Compare the two sticks. Which is longer?

  2. Use the short stick to measure a bench, step by step. How many sticks long?

  3. Now try with the long stick. Is the number bigger or smaller?

  4. Together

    Measure each other lying down. Who's more sticks long?

All done!

That's every step. However it went, you made a little moment together.

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