1. Units of measurement
GM2.4 Core Starter
The box contains some common units and the table contains some numbers.
a Jot down any patterns you notice in the number table.
b Use the numbers and units to give estimates of the following.
Try to give as many equivalent answers as you can for each one.
Preamble
An estimation activity involving using different metric units. Some pupils may need further practice – the table may be used with some other objects found in real life. Wild estimates should be countered by performing the actual measurement.
Possible content
Using different metric units; estimating the measures of everyday objects.
Resources
Possibly measuring devices to check/convince pupils of some measurements.
Solution/Notes
a Going down a column, cells increase by a factor if 10 Going horizontally adds 2 lots of a power of 10, depending on the row.
b The following estimates are reasonable. Capacity of saucepan 2 litres to 6 litres = 2000 ml to 6000 ml Mass of an adult 60 kg to 80 kg Area of piece of A cm2 = 0.06 m2 Length of a finger 6 cm to 10 cm = 0.06 m to 0.1 m = 60 mm to 100 mm Thickness of exercise book 4 mm to 8 mm = 0.4 cm to 0.8 cm
capacity of a saucepan
mass of an adult
area of a piece of A4 paper
length of a finger
thickness of an exercise book
Original Material © Cambridge University Press 2009
Original Material © Cambridge University Press 2009