Learn how to make rainbow & bean rulers for your preschool, pre-k, & kindergarten students. Non-standard measurement is a great learning tool in the classroom. Non-standard measurement can be bright, colorful, and FUN for your little learners in your classroom. I can’t wait to show you how to make rainbow & bean rulers!
Check out my Measurement Unit for Little Learners to get resources and activities for your students.
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I have a simple DIY for your preschool, pre-k, and kindergarten students to practice non-standard measurement with user-friendly tools in the classroom. I made two kinds of rulers for my preschool classroom: bean rulers and rainbow rulers!
How to Make the Rainbow Rulers
1. All you need to make rainbow rulers are permanent markers and wooden rulers.
2. Color each inch a different color. You can make your ruler with any color combination you would like! I made mine like the rainbow, but any combination of colors would look great!
3. Color each inch, and you are done!
Rainbow rulers allow my preschool students to measure with real rulers! Instead of counting the marks on the ruler, they count the color blocks. Students don’t have to be able to identify numbers to be able to practice measuring. This way, when they get to elementary school, they are familiar with and confident in using a ruler! All they have to learn how to read the marks on the ruler!
How to Make Bean Rulers
To make the bean rulers, you will need
1. Write the numbers on the beans. This way, the numbers will not rub off as your students use the rulers. It works best to use the large lima beans for your rulers.
2. Tear off a long piece of tape and place the beans on the tape. (HINT: fold over some tape at each end to make it easier to grab)
3. Fold the bottom tape over the beans.
4. Fold the top of the tape over the beans.
5. Squeeze all the air bubbles out and trim the ends.
**Steps 6 & 7 will make your bean rulers stronger and will last longer!**
6. Tear off another piece of tape and put the ruler on the tape
7. Repeat steps 3, 4 and 5
The bean rulers are a great tool to teach non-standard measurement. My students love using them! No more beans wiggling all over the place when we are trying to measure. I made a whole class set! Students can easily point to each bean as they count and measure.
Non-Standard Rulers in Action
Measuring Animals with Rainbow Rulers! Grab my animal measurement FREEBIE below to practice non-standard measurement with preschool, pre-k, and kindergarten students. Use plastic animals and a rainbow ruler to practice counting, measuring, number identification, and more.
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Measuring Plants with Bean Rulers! Students can measure plastic plants with bean rulers to practice non-standard measurement. Grab the plant measuring FREEBIE below! In the fall, students can go on a leaf hunt and then measure their leaves!
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Measuring Fruits with Rainbow Rulers! Grab my non-standard measurement FREEBIE to use in a fruit theme or a health and nutrition unit. Students will use rainbow rulers to measure stuffed fruit pieces or other small manipulatives.
>>Grab the FREEBIE by entering your email in the box at the bottom of this blog post!<<
Measuring Vegetables with Bean Rulers! Vegetables work great as objects for measuring. They come in bright colors, a variety of sizes, and textures for little learners to explore. Grab my non-standard measurement FREEBIE to use with your rainbow & bean rulers!
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Grab some beans, rulers, and permanent markers and create rainbow & bean rulers for your preschool, pre-k, and kindergarten students today! Remember the FREEBIE to teach your students about non-standard measurement!
Check out my Measurement for Little Learners to teach capacity, length, weight, and height!
Grab my Little Learner Science Unit: Being a Scientist!
Want book ideas about measurement? Check out my Measurement Booklist for Little Learners!
Get ideas for tray activities from my blog post that includes over 10 ideas for little learners!
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