Length can be measured in metres and centimetres
I can describe the size of a metre and a centimetre, and choose which unit might be best to measure different lengths.
Length can be measured in metres and centimetres
I can describe the size of a metre and a centimetre, and choose which unit might be best to measure different lengths.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Length is measured in metres and centimetres.
- 1 cm is about the width of your thumbnail.
- 1 metre is about the height of the door handle.
Keywords
Metres - A measure of length (about the height of a door handle).
Centimetres - A measure of length (about the width of your thumbnail).
Common misconception
Children may think that a metre and a centimetre are similar in length, due to the way they are presented in images that are not to scale.
Allow children to explore practically and develop a sense of the length of one centimetre and one metre. Find familiar items to reference specific lengths e.g. our classroom door is about one metre wide.
To help you plan your year 2 maths lesson on: Length can be measured in metres and centimetres, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 2 maths lesson on: Length can be measured in metres and centimetres, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 1 maths lessons from the Sense of measure - capacity, volume and mass unit, dive into the full secondary maths curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Licence
Starter quiz
6 Questions




Exit quiz
6 Questions



A centimetre is a __________ length than a metre.
A metre is a __________ length than a centimetre.