Measurement Length and Perimeter - Equivalent Lengths – mm & cm - Starter

In a mathematics lesson tailored for Year 4 students, the focus is on developing proficiency with measurement, specifically understanding length and perimeter by converting between millimetres and centimetres. The lesson kicks off with a 'Fluent in Four' revision exercise where students are challenged with a series of four quick-fire problems designed to consolidate their arithmetic skills. They tackle tasks such as simple subtraction and ordering numbers from least to greatest. One of the problems asks students to convert 299 cm into metres, reinforcing their understanding of equivalent lengths and the relationship between centimetres and metres.

Further exercises encourage students to apply their knowledge in practical scenarios. For example, they are asked to calculate the number of boys at a disco, given the total number of children and the number of girls. This problem not only tests their subtraction skills but also their ability to interpret and solve word problems. The conversion task is revisited with a visual aid that helps students partition the number 299 into 200 cm and 99 cm, making it easier to see that 299 cm is equivalent to 2 metres and 99 centimetres. This visual representation aids in understanding the concept of converting larger units into smaller ones, a foundational skill in measurement.