Mathematics / Year 5 / Measurement

Curriculum content descriptions

choose appropriate metric units when measuring the length, mass and capacity of objects; use smaller units or a combination of units to obtain a more accurate measure (AC9M5M01)

Elaborations
  • ordering metric units from the largest unit to the smallest; for example, kilometre, metre, centimetre, millimetre
  • recognising that some units of measurement are better suited to some tasks than others; for example, kilometres are more appropriate than metres to measure the distance between \(2\) towns
  • deciding on the unit required to estimate the amount of paint or carpet for a room or a whole building; justifying the choice of unit in relation to the context and the degree of accuracy required
  • measuring and comparing distances, such as jumps or throws using a metre length of string; for example, then measuring the part metre with centimetres and/or millimetres; explaining which unit of measure is most accurate
  • researching how the base units are derived for the International System of Units (SI), commonly known as the metric system of units, recognising that the metric unit names for the attributes, length and mass are international standards for measurement
General capabilities
  • Critical and creative thinking Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Numeracy Numeracy
ScOT terms

Units of measurement,  Length,  Mass,  Volume (Dimensions)

Downloadable

First steps in mathematics: Measurement – Book 2

A guide to teaching about measurement including indirect measuring, and estimating.

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Nets, shapes … and donuts!

In this lesson, students learn about industrial engineering and explore designing cardboard packaging nets that can be folded into innovative packages.

Downloadable

Measurement: Foundation to Year 9

This comprehensive resource describes the progression of measurement ideas. The resource demonstrates examples of relevant teaching strategies, investigations, activity plans and connected concepts in measurement including teaching and cultural implications.

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Work Unit: Mr Moon’s feathery problem - Calculate

This unit of work provides a rich, contextual activity through which students can explore the applications of measurement (length, area and capacity), to a real problem in an everyday context for Students in Years 5 & 6.

Online

Lengths and areas

This is a website designed for teachers and students in year 5, and addresses components of the length and area topic. It is particularly relevant for selecting appropriate metric units of measurement for length, perimeter and area, and calculation of the area of rectangles. There are pages for both teachers and students. ...

Online

Metric units and using instruments: Year 5 – planning tool

This planning resource for Year 5 is for the topic of Metric units and using instruments. Students choose appropriate metric units measuring the length, mass and capacity of objects.

Video

Decimal fractions video

Use this video to explore decimal fractions, how they are represented and how we use them in day-to-day contexts.

Downloadable

First steps in mathematics: Measurement – Book 1

The content of this book is organised into topics including understanding units, and direct measuring.

Downloadable

Kitchen scales

Use this diagnostic task to assess a student's understanding of mass and the graduations on a kitchen scale.

Downloadable

How heavy is this frog/tin?

Use this diagnostic task to assess understanding of mass and units used to measure mass.

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Reasoning Year 5 - Calculate

The focus of this activity is for students to recognise the relationship between the dimensions of a square or rectangle and the perimeter and area of these shapes. Students will need to use a systematic approach to show that they have found all the possible solutions.

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Engineers are problem solvers

In this lesson, students find examples of engineering all around them and identify the importance of engineering in our daily lives. They explore the engineering design cycle through a simple hands-on challenge.

Downloadable

What is the area?

Use this diagnostic task to assess what students know about area and using the area formula.

Online

Area and perimeter: Year 5 – planning tool

This planning resource for Year 5 is for the topic of Area and perimeter. Students estimate and measure perimeter in metric units for length and area of quadrilaterals using grid squares and square centimetres. They solve practical problems involving the perimeter and area of regular and irregular shapes.

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Inquiry Prompt Ribbon Bow - Calculate

This open-ended task challenges students to carry out a mathematical investigation using a ribbon-bow as a stimulus. They are encouraged to develop their own research questions and investigate possible solutions using using mathematical problem solving and modelling strategies.

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Event Planner - Calculate

This investigative project gives students the experience of being a professional ‘event planner’, by organising a special event such as a wedding reception, farewell or special birthday party. Students are asked to prepare a comprehensive plan that outlines a floor and seating plan, a fully costed menu, a monetary quote ...

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Giant hole: climb through a hole in a sheet of paper

This teaching resource outlines an activity for students to explore the relationship between the area and perimeter of a shape, by using a series of cuts in a piece of paper to create a hole large enough to step through. The resource includes detailed instructions for creating the cuts in the paper, an explanation of how ...

Online

Enlargement transformations

This is a website designed for teachers and students in year 5, and addresses components of the enlargement transformations topic in geometry. It is particularly relevant for the concept of enlarging two-dimensional shapes and also contains material on enlarging drawings using grid paper. There are pages for both teachers ...

Online

Angles - measurement, construction, estimation

This is a website designed for teachers and students in year 5, and addresses the topic of angles. It contains material on the vocabulary used when dealing with angles, and introduces the measurement and construction of angles using a protractor. There are pages for both teachers and students. The student pages contain ...

Online

Time and duration: Year 5 – planning tool

This planning resource for Year 5 is for the topic of Time and duration. Students focus on reading time in 12- and 24-hour time and converting between them. They build on their knowledge of am and pm notation and solve time-related problems.