Measuring Length

Topic: Measuring Lengths and Distances in Metres and Centimetres

Objectives & Outcomes

• Students will be able to measure and compare lengths and distances in metres and centimetres.
• Students will be able to use units of measurement to solve real-life problems.

Materials

• Metre sticks or metre rulers
• Centimetre sticks or centimetre rulers
• Pencils and paper for recording measurements

Warm-up

• Ask students to stand up and stretch their arms straight out in front of them.
• Ask them to measure the distance between their fingertips by counting their fingertips one by one.
• Ask them to estimate how many centimetres this is.
• Write the students' estimates on the board and compare them to the actual measurement.

Direct Instruction

• Show students a metre stick and a ruler and explain that these are tools for measuring length.
• Demonstrate how to use the metre stick by holding it up against a wall and measuring from one end to the other.
• Explain that the metre stick is divided into 100cm or 100mm intervals, and that these smaller intervals can be used to measure smaller distances.
• Show students how to use the ruler by holding it up against a wall and measuring from one end to the other.
• Explain that the ruler is divided into millimetre (mm) intervals, and that these smaller intervals can be used to measure smaller distances.

Guided Practice

• Have students work in pairs and give each pair a metre stick and a ruler.
• Have students use the metre stick to measure and record the length of a designated object in metres (e.g. a chair).
• Have students use the ruler to measure and record the length of the same designated object in millimetres.
• Have students compare the lengths they measured and discuss any differences.

Independent Practice

• Have students use a ruler to measure and record the length of several designated objects in both metres and millimetres.
• Have students create a graph or chart showing the lengths they measured, and label it with the unit of measurement used for each measurement (e.g. "Length in metres" and "Length in millimetres").
• Have students use their graph or chart to compare the lengths they measured and discuss any differences.

Closure

• Review the concepts learned during the lesson, including how to measure and compare lengths in both metres and millimetres.
• Ask students to share any questions or concerns they have about the lesson.

Assessment

• Observe students during the independent practice activity and provide feedback on their understanding of the concepts covered in the lesson.
• Collect and review the length measurements written on the metre and millimetre grids to assess students' ability to accurately measure and compare lengths in both metres and millimetres.
• Give a quiz or test at the end of the unit to assess students' understanding of length measurement and comparison.