Length and Perimeter - Compare lengths​ - Planning

In the second week of the Spring term, Year 3 students embark on a journey through the world of measurement, focusing specifically on lengths and perimeters. This segment of their curriculum aligns with the National Curriculum objectives, which include measuring, comparing, adding, and subtracting lengths in various units such as metres, centimetres, and millimetres, as well as understanding the perimeter of simple 2-D shapes. The key vocabulary for this unit includes terms like length, width, perimeter, and metric, which are essential for grasping the concepts of measurement and dimension. The lesson plan includes a variety of resources such as worksheets and presentations to aid learning.

The lesson commences with a practical activity that encourages students to compare and order themselves by height, using the terms 'shortest' and 'tallest' to understand the concept of length. They are then tasked with measuring each other's heights in both centimetres and metres, learning the importance of consistency in units for accurate comparison. The lesson continues with activities that challenge the students to order objects, such as towers and books, by size, and to convert measurements to the same unit for easier comparison. Throughout the lesson, key questions prompt students to think about the order of lengths and the benefits of using a single unit of measurement. The lesson concludes with differentiated worksheets that cater to varying levels of understanding, from basic comparison of lengths to ordering multiple lengths with complex questions. Students are also encouraged to reflect on what they have learned and to identify any areas that they found challenging, ensuring that they leave the lesson with a solid understanding of how to measure and compare different lengths.