Converting Units - Metric Units - Planning

In the Year 5 summer curriculum, students embark on a week dedicated to mastering the art of converting measurements, particularly focusing on metric units of length. The lesson commences with a quick review of previous learning, followed by an engaging class discussion on unit conversion, where students are encouraged to verbalise the conversion process for millimetres to metres and vice versa, as well as understanding the meaning of 'centi'. Practical activities include moving around the classroom to associate real-world objects with the most suitable unit of measurement, such as choosing whether to use centimetres or metres to measure the height of a door. This hands-on approach helps solidify their understanding of when and how to apply different metric units.

The lesson is structured with a series of activities that require students to actively engage with measuring and converting lengths. They work in pairs to measure the height of book piles and determine the difference in millimetres, practising their conversion skills by multiplying centimetres by 10. Another activity involves drawing lines of specific lengths and adding additional lengths in millimetres, further reinforcing their understanding of the relationship between centimetres and millimetres. Group work challenges students to order various heights in millimetres, promoting discussion and correction of any misconceptions. The lesson concludes with a reflection on the skills used, such as multiplication and division by 10 and 100, and a reminder to always start measuring from the zero mark on a ruler. Differentiated worksheets cater to varying levels of proficiency, ensuring that all students are working towards, at, or beyond the expected level of understanding for their age group.