Converting Units - Kilometres - Planning

In the Year 5 curriculum, students delve into the world of metric conversions, focusing on understanding and converting measurements such as kilometres to metres and vice versa. The National Curriculum objectives aim to equip children with the ability to seamlessly switch between different units of metric measure, including length, mass, and capacity. Key vocabulary such as 'kilo', 'convert', 'lengths', 'metres', and 'kilometres' is introduced to underpin their learning. During the lesson, students will engage with bar models and worksheets to solidify their grasp of the concept that one kilometre is equivalent to 1,000 metres. Through a series of activities, they will practice multiplying and dividing by 1,000 to convert measurements, using bar models to visualise and solve problems involving the addition and subtraction of different lengths.

As the lesson progresses, children are encouraged to apply their knowledge to real-world scenarios, such as researching various athletic running races and converting the distances from metres to kilometres. They will also explore the use of comparison symbols and tackle differentiated worksheets aimed at reinforcing their understanding of metric conversions. The lesson addresses common misconceptions, such as confusing the relationship between metres and kilometres with that of centimetres and metres. By the end of the lesson, students will have strengthened their ability to convert between metres and kilometres, understood the use of bar models for visual representation, and committed to memory the equivalence of 1,000 metres to one kilometre, thereby achieving a deeper understanding of metric measurements.