In this field trip, kids will practice identifying what is big, medium, and small. With the help of our Asian elephants and elephant shrews, kids will also become familiar with other measurement terms such as longer, shorter, and taller.

Content Unit :
Size and Measurement
Featured Creature :
Asian elephant, Black and rufous elephant shrew

Letter to Families

Print or send this letter home with your students to help them share what they learned during the "Music and Sound All Around" virtual field trip and how families can continue the learning at home!

Resources

Three figured stand side by side as they smile at the camera. The figure to the left wears a blue shirt and holds a guitar. The middle figure is a pink puppet made to look like a jackalope. The figure on the right claps their hands with enthusiasm.
Our Bodies and the Five Senses Pre-Math With Cheetahs Happy Bird-Day, Head Start! Small Mammal Sing-Along Music and Sound All Around Big, Small, Let's Measure Them All Food with Friends

Music Playlist

Join Nick the Music Man, Pinky Jackalope, and other guest stars as they sing and dance about early childhood topics! Your little ones will love moving and grooving to these original songs by Nick Young of Play Motion Music. New songs will be added throughout the school year, so be sure to check back.  

Additional details
Language:
English
Topic:
Music
Watch / Listen
A pink puppet is surrounded by graphics including a ruler, turtle, airplane, coin, dinosaur, sculpture, and plant.
Big, Small, Let's Measure Them All

Pinky's Smithsonian Adventure: Measuring Objects

For this episode of Pinky's Smithsonian Adventure, Pinky Jackalope is measuring objects from 6 different Smithsonian museums and research centers! Pinky may not be able to use a ruler quite yet, but she can measure objects in her own unique way by comparing them to her height and the length of her arm, hand, and even pinky finger.
Additional details
Age Group:
Toddler Preschool
ELOF Domain:
Approaches to Learning Language and Communication Cognition Mathematics Development
Format:
Video
Language:
English
Museum:
Smithsonian Institution
Topic:
Math
Watch
A framed picture of an elephant is next to a framed portrait of Michelle Obama against a blue background.
Big, Small, Let's Measure Them All

First Ladies: Elephants & Michelle Obama

Elephants are more than just big, they can also be leaders who take care of their herds. In this resource from the National Zoo and the National Portrait Gallery, learn what elephants at the zoo have in common with human leaders like Michelle Obama. Children will look closely at Michelle Obama's portrait by Amy Sherald and create their own self-portraits as leaders!
Additional details
Age Group:
Preschool
Animal:
Mammals
ELOF Domain:
Approaches to Learning Social and Emotional Development Language and Communication Literacy Scientific Reasoning Perceptual, Motor, and Physical Development
Format:
E-Course
Language:
English
Museum:
National Zoo National Portrait Gallery
Topic:
Animals
View
A cheetah cub sits in the grass
Big, Small, Let's Measure Them All Happy Birthday!

Help Us Name a Cheetah Cub!

During our virtual field trip, we made a big announcement about some small creatures: the litter of four cheetah cubs that were born at the Zoo in November 2025. The National Zoo is inviting you and your classrooms to vote on the name for one of the baby cheetahs! Meet the cheetahs, find out how to vote, and discover lots of fun cheetah activities for your classrooms.
Additional details
Age Group:
Toddler Preschool
Animal:
Mammals
ELOF Domain:
Approaches to Learning
Format:
Web page
Language:
English
Museum:
National Zoo
Topic:
Animals
Cheetah Central
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