Mathematics / Year 4 / Measurement

Curriculum content descriptions

recognise ways of measuring and approximating the perimeter and area of shapes and enclosed spaces, using appropriate formal and informal units (AC9M4M02)

Elaborations
  • recognising that perimeter is the sum of the lengths that form the boundary of a shape or enclosed space; choosing suitable units from a range of objects to measure around the boundary of a shape such as a garden bed; comparing the results to say which unit was an appropriate choice for the context; using a piece of string or rope to measure the perimeter of irregular shapes and enclosed spaces, including those that have curved sections
  • creating a range of rectangles representing “paddocks” on grid paper and establishing different methods of working out the length of the boundary fences; explaining that the more efficient methods involve adding the side lengths rather than counting squares
  • recognising that area is the space enclosed by the boundary of a shape or the surface of an object; measuring and comparing the area of shapes, using an array of paper tiles or mosaic squares, including part units to fill gaps at the edge of the shapes; comparing the total areas by combining the fractional parts to make whole units
  • demonstrating how to use one unit repeatedly to measure the area of a shape; for example, using one paper square to measure and compare the area of a rectangle and a triangle; recording and explaining how they used part units to give a more accurate measure, and why they needed to ensure there were no gaps or overlaps
  • investigating the ways First Nations Ranger Groups and other groups measure areas of land to make decisions about fire burns to care for Country/Place
General capabilities
  • Critical and creative thinking Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Numeracy Numeracy
ScOT terms

Units of measurement,  Area,  Perimeter

Downloadable

Tiling problem

Use this diagnostic task to assess if students use an array structure when working out how many tiles fit in a rectangle.

Downloadable

Leaf task

Use this diagnostic task to assess understanding of area and measuring the area of an irregular shape.

Downloadable

Make a measuring jug

Use this diagnostic task to assess a student's understanding of capacity and the calibrated scale on a measuring jug.

Downloadable

Broken ruler

This task can be used to reveal whether students can use markings on a ruler to measure in centimetres and whether they understand how the number on the scale relates to the units.

Downloadable

First steps in mathematics: Measurement – Book 1

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

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.

Downloadable

First steps in mathematics: Measurement – Book 2

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