Intermediate
40 mins
Teacher/Student led
+80 XP
Teacher-led from the board. Pupils do not need a device, but can follow on one.
What you need:
Metre stick

Everyone Got a Different Answer: Why We Need the Metre

Discover why measuring with hand-spans gives different answers because hands vary in size. Then use the metre stick to sort classroom objects as longer than a metre, shorter than a metre or about a metre.

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    1 - Getting Started ~3 mins

    Illustration for Getting StartedI am going to measure the width of our board in hand-spans. Then one of you will measure the very same board in your hand-spans.

    Hands up if you think we will get the same number.

    2 - Watch and Notice ~7 mins

    Same board: about 6 hand-spans and about 9 hand-spans. Hands come in different sizes, so the counts disagree.

    This stick is one metre. Every metre stick is the same length, so everyone gets the same answer.

    Watch each object land against the metre stick. Is it longer than a metre, shorter than a metre, or about a metre?

    3 - Try It Together ~8 mins

    Today we sort objects from around our school against the metre stick.

    Is each one longer than a metre, shorter than a metre, or about a metre?

    One of you sorts at the board. Everyone else watches and helps decide.

    Longer, shorter or about a metre?

    4 - Write Longer and Shorter in Your Copy ~3 mins

    COPYBOOK MOMENT

    In your maths copy, write one thing in our room longer than a metre and one thing shorter. One word or a short phrase each is enough.

    5 - Class Challenge ~8 mins

    Sort each object against the metre stick: longer, shorter, or about the same length as a metre?

    Take turns at the board. How do you know?

    Sort against the metre

    Pupil practice
    Module 7 · Measures: Length, Weight and Capacity Measures
    Lesson 75 · Everyone Got a Different Answer: Why We Need the Metre
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