New
New
Year 2
Compare and order lengths
I can compare and order lengths.
New
New
Year 2
Compare and order lengths
I can compare and order lengths.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- When the units are the same, you can compare lengths in the same way as we compare 2-digit numbers.
- When the units are the same, you can order lengths in the same way as we order 2-digit numbers.
- When the units are different and the numbers are the same, you can compare lengths by looking at the unit.
Keywords
Compare - You compare to find out what is the same and what is different. You can compare numbers to find out if one is greater than or less than another.
Order - You can order numbers from the smallest to the largest or from the largest to the smallest. The order stays the same when you count.
Common misconception
Children may confuse the comparative language of taller, tallest, longer and longest.
Talk about the difference between longest and tallest. Collect examples together and label each object as tallest or longest to support children's understanding.
If children are not yet secure with inequality symbols, they would benefit from some additional practice before starting this lesson. It would be helpful if children have access to labelled number lines and Base 10 equipment to support their understanding of comparing two-digit numbers.
Teacher tip
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on
Open Government Licence version 3.0
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).Starter quiz
Download starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.
Order the lengths using < > or = 12 m ___ 20 m
>
=
Q2.
Order the unit of lengths using < > or = metres ___ centimetres
<
=
Q3.
Which standard unit of measure would be used for the height of a van?

centimetres
Q4.
This crayon is cm long.

Q5.
The wardrobe is metres tall.

Q6.
Alex threw the ball 5 __________.

centimetres
Exit quiz
Download exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.
Complete the sentence. 48 metres is __________ 48 centimetres.
shorter than
the same as
Q2.
Which length is longer? Use < or > to compare. 15 cm ___ 13 cm
<
=
Q3.
Compare the lengths using < > or = 17 m ___ 71 m
>
=
Q4.
Order the lengths using < or > 63 cm ___ 36 cm
<
Q5.
An ash tree is 22 m tall. A silver birch tree is 17 m tall. An oak tree is shorter than the ash tree but taller than the silver birch tree. How tall could the oak tree be?
24 m
17 m
Q6.
Look at how far each of the children could kick a football. Order the children, starting with the one who kicked their ball the shortest distance.
