New
New
Year 2

Compare and order measurements of mass

I can compare and order measurements of mass.

New
New
Year 2

Compare and order measurements of mass

I can compare and order measurements of mass.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. When the units are the same, you can compare masses in the same way as we compare 2-digit numbers.
  2. When the units are the same, you can order masses in the same way as we order 2-digit numbers.
  3. When the units are different, you can compare masses by looking at the unit rather than the numbers.

Keywords

  • Lighter - When one object has less mass than another, it is lighter.

  • Lightest - When an object has the least mass than all the others in a set, it is the lightest.

  • Heavier - When one object has more mass than another, it is heavier.

  • Heaviest - When an object has the greatest mass than all the others in a set, it is the heaviest.

Common misconception

Children often believe that the size of the item relates to its mass and that a larger item will always be heavier than a smaller item.

Explore examples where the larger item is lighter and the smaller item is heavier to address this misconception. For example, compare the mass of an inflated balloon with a stone, or an empty box with a small bag full of coins.

Children will benefit from lots of practical opportunities to explore comparing and ordering mass using balance scales. In this lesson, children explore ordering sets of up to five measurements of mass. This number could be reduced to three or four if this suits the needs of the children better.
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).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Mass is what we are measuring when we find out how __________ something is.
long
Correct answer: heavy
tall
Q2.
One gram is __________ one kilogram.
heavier than
Correct answer: lighter than
the same as
Q3.
Which of these objects have the mass of about one gram?
A bunch of bananas
Correct answer: A paper clip
A laptop
Correct answer: A raisin
Q4.
Choose a sensible measurement. A rabbit has a mass of about __________.
1 gram
1 metre
Correct answer: 1 kilogram
Q5.
The mass of this parcel is kilograms.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 12
Q6.
The mass of this packet is grams.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 85

6 Questions

Q1.
We use a __________ to compare the mass of objects.
ruler
Correct answer: balance
metre stick
Q2.
Compare the masses of the eraser and the pencil. The eraser is __________ the pencil.
An image in a quiz
lighter than
the same as
Correct answer: heavier than
Q3.
The children are comparing the mass of a book, a pencil case and a bean bag. Match the parts of the sentence correctly.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer:The book is ,the heaviest object.

the heaviest object.

Correct Answer:The bean bag is,the lightest object.

the lightest object.

Correct Answer:The pencil case is,heavier than the beanbag but lighter than the book.

heavier than the beanbag but lighter than the book.

Q4.
The objects have been ordered, starting with the lightest. Which statements are true?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: The stone is the heaviest object.
The block is heavier than the toy car.
Correct answer: The toy car is heavier than the block.
Correct answer: The stick is the lightest object.
Q5.
Compare the masses. 7 g is __________ 7 kg.
heavier than
equal to
Correct answer: lighter than
Q6.
Order the masses starting with the lightest.
1 - 25 kg
2 - 32 kg
3 - 52 kg