Beginner
40 mins
Teacher/Student led
+80 XP
Teacher-led from the board. Pupils do not need a device, but can follow on one.

Longer, Shorter, the Same: Comparing Lengths Fairly

In this lesson pupils learn to compare lengths fairly by lining up starting ends. They practise ordering objects from longest to shortest and recognise when items match in length. Activities include hands-on strip lineup, sorting on the board, and discussing common comparison errors.

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    1 - Getting Started ~3 mins

    Illustration for Getting StartedTwo pencils are poking out of a pencil case. One sticks out much further than the other. Hands up: which pencil is longer? Are you sure? What might be sneaky about how they are sitting?

    2 - Watch and Notice ~9 mins

    Watch the board. First the teacher shows two ribbons. When the short ribbon’s start is pushed forward, it can look longer. Then we put the starting ends together (the ends that should sit on the same mark). The far ends tell us which is really longer.

    Next we put three scarves in order from longest to shortest.

    Last we find two strips that stretch the same far.

    3 - Try It Together ~9 mins

    We line up real paper strips on the desk. Put every starting end on the desk edge. Which strip is longest? Which is shortest?

    Then we sort the same strips on the board together, from longest to shortest.

    Longest to shortest

    4 - Draw Two Lines in Your Copy ~2 mins

    COPYBOOK MOMENT

    In your maths copy, draw two lines: one long, one short. Tick the longer one.

    5 - Class Challenge ~8 mins

    We sort one set at a time. Compare the bars. Check each set before we move on.

    Order the lengths

    Pupil practice
    Module 7 · Measures: Length, Weight and Capacity Measures
    Lesson 73 · Longer, Shorter, the Same: Comparing Lengths Fairly
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