Estimate and measure length and record results in a table

I can estimate length, use a ruler to check my estimate and record these results in a table.

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Year 1

Estimate and measure length and record results in a table

I can estimate length, use a ruler to check my estimate and record these results in a table.

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Share activities with pupils

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Lesson details

Key learning points

When you estimate length, you think carefully and make a sensible guess.
When you find a measurement, you use a ruler so it is more accurate.
Estimates and measurements can be recorded in a table.
Information in a table can be used to describe and compare lengths.

Keywords

Estimate - To find a value that is close enough to the right answer, usually with some thought or calculation involved.
Measure - To find a number that shows the size or amount of something.
Table - Information arranged in rows and columns.

Common misconception

Children may try to estimate length without aligning their object with the start of the known length (such as a 10 cm strip of paper).

Each time you make an estimate, model aligning the object you are measuring with the start of the strip of paper. Make links to when we measure with a ruler, knowing we always have to line up the object we are measuring with 0 cm.

Keep the 10 cm strips of paper in the classroom so that children have the opportunity to continue exploring the concept of estimating length based on known lengths outside of the lesson. For example, they could estimate, and then check, which pencils are closest to 10 cm in length.

Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).