Max Maths, Year 4, Learn together, Converting units of length (4)

In the Max Maths curriculum for Year 4, students are introduced to the concept of converting units of length, with a particular focus on the relationship between kilometres and metres. To aid in understanding this conversion, a simple diagram is used which shows that to convert from kilometres to metres, the number of kilometres must be multiplied by 1,000. Conversely, to go from metres to kilometres, the value in metres is divided by 1,000. This visual representation serves as a mnemonic device to help students remember the conversion process.

The lesson includes practical exercises to reinforce the concept of unit conversion. Students begin by matching lengths in millimetres (mm) to their equivalent in centimetres (cm), such as pairing 100 mm with 10 cm, and 260 mm with 26 cm. They then move on to a series of conversion tasks, converting measurements between centimetres, millimetres, kilometres, and metres. For example, they learn to convert 31 cm to millimetres and 2.8 km to metres. These exercises are designed to build confidence in converting between different units of length, an essential skill in both mathematics and everyday life.