Converting Units - Kilograms and Kilometres - Planning

In a Year 5 mathematics lesson dedicated to converting measurements, students explore the concept of mass and length by focusing on converting between grams and kilograms, as well as metres and kilometres. The lesson begins with a practical demonstration where children are shown a kilogram weight and other weights in grams to facilitate a tactile understanding of mass. Key vocabulary such as 'kilo', 'units', and 'fractions' are introduced, with an emphasis on the prefix 'kilo' meaning a thousand. The class is guided to recognise that there are 1,000 grams in a kilogram and 1,000 metres in a kilometre, reinforcing their understanding through repetition.

Interactive activities form the core of the lesson, with students engaging in partner work to discuss and determine missing values on number lines, thus applying their knowledge of conversions. For example, they learn to find fractions of a kilogram by dividing 1,000 grams by the denominator and then multiplying by the numerator if necessary. The lesson also covers comparing measurements using symbols like 'less than', 'greater than', and 'equals to', and students work in pairs to solve related problems. Differentiated worksheets support independent learning, while group work encourages discussion and problem-solving. The lesson concludes with a reflection on the skills used, such as finding fractions of amounts and converting units, ensuring that students are aware of common misconceptions and what they need to remember moving forward. The lesson is structured to cater to different levels of understanding, from basic conversions to more complex problems involving calculations and near-empty number lines.