Shapes with measurements

The Year 6 mathematics curriculum covers an array of geometric concepts, one of which includes solving problems related to similar shapes where the scale factor is known or can be determined. In practical terms, this means that students will learn how to accurately scale shapes up or down based on a given scale factor. This concept is particularly useful in real-world applications where proportional reasoning is essential, such as in design and engineering.

The lesson introduces a variety of shapes with specific measurements, ranging from 2cm to 70mm, allowing students to work with both metric units of centimetres and millimetres. Students encounter squares and rectangles with sides of equal length, such as 50mm or 6cm, as well as other shapes with sides of varying lengths. For instance, they might explore a blue square with all sides measuring 40mm, a white square with sides of 20mm, and a red square with sides of 6cm, alongside a white square with 2cm sides. Through these exercises, students practice scaling these shapes, understanding the relationship between their dimensions, and applying their knowledge of scale factors to calculate new dimensions for similar shapes.