Length can be measured in metres and centimetres
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe the size of a metre and a centimetre, and choose which unit might be best to measure different lengths.
Key learning points
- Length is measured in metres and centimetres.
- 1 cm is about the width of your thumbnail.
- 1 metre is about the height of the door handle.
Keywords
Metres - A measure of length (about the height of a door handle).
Centimetres - A measure of length (about the width of your thumbnail).
Common misconception
Children may think that a metre and a centimetre are similar in length, due to the way they are presented in images that are not to scale.
Allow children to explore practically and develop a sense of the length of one centimetre and one metre. Find familiar items to reference specific lengths e.g. our classroom door is about one metre wide.
Teacher tip
The children are not expected to measure during this lesson - they are developing a sense of how long one centimetre and one metre are. Measuring will be explored in a later lesson.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.The toy car is dominoes long.
Q2.The pebble is as heavy as blocks.
Q3.Which of these units are non-standard units of measure?
Q4.In the story about Pedro Panda and Sydney Snake, the animals had different sized feet. Their feet are __________ units of measure.
Q5.True or false. A standard unit of measure is always the same size. It does not get larger or smaller.
Q6.Aisha used a __________ unit of measure to see how tall the astronaut is.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.A metre is a __________ unit of measure.
Q2.Which of these lengths could be about one metre?
Q3.Match the parts of the sentence correctly.
A centimetre is a __________ length than a metre.
A metre is a __________ length than a centimetre.
Q4.True or false. It is sensible to measure the distance from one side of the classroom to the other in centimetres.
Q5.Which lengths would you measure in metres?
Q6.Choose the correct unit of measure. My pen is about 15 __________ long.
To help you plan your 2 maths lesson on: Length can be measured in metres and centimetres, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 2 maths lesson on: Length can be measured in metres and centimetres, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 1 maths lessons from the Sense of measure - capacity, volume and mass unit, dive into the full primary maths curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.