National curriculum content

• Measure, compare, add and subtract: mass (kg/g); volume/capacity (l/ml)

Lesson objectives

1. Use scales
2. Measure mass in grams
3. Measure mass in kilograms and grams
4. Equivalent masses (kilograms and grams)
5. Compare mass
6. Add and subtract mass
7. Measure capacity and volume in millilitres
8. Measure capacity and volume in litres and millilitres
9. Equivalent capacities and volumes (litres and millilitres)
10. Compare capacity and volume
11. Add and subtract capacity and volume

What we want children to know

• Compare mass using < and > and order objects based on their masses
• Learn how to read a range of scales to measure mass, including scales with missing intervals
• Measure the mass of objects and record them as mixed measurements in kilograms and grams
• Understand that kilograms are used for heavier objects
• Compare mixed measurements using the inequality symbols
• Use a range of mental and written methods, choosing the most efficient one for each question
• Compare the volume of containers using <, > and =
• Use litres, millilitres and standard scales to explore capacity
• Measure capacity with litres and millilitres together and record measurements as __ l and ___ ml
• Introduce to temperature, thermometers and the units of ‘degrees Centigrade’, written ◦C for the first time

What skills we want children to develop

Use knowledge to solve reasoning and problem solving questions such as:

Top Tips

Put these measurements in order starting with the largest.

Half a litre                 Quarter of a litre                300ml

Explain your thinking.

Write more statements

If there are 630ml of water in a jug. How much water do you need to add to end up with a litre of water?

What if there was 450ml to start with?

Make up some questions like this.

Position the symbols

Place the correct symbols between the measurements > or <

930 ml ___ 1 litre

Explain your thinking.

Mathematical talk

• How can we measure the mass of an object?
• Using the symbols <, > or =, what can you tell me about each of the scales?
• Which container has the largest/smallest capacity? How do you know? Can we order them from largest to smallest?
• What does capacity mean? What does volume mean?
• How many millilitres are in 1 litre? If we know this, what else do we know?
• What methods can we use to add volumes or capacities?