Measurement: Length, Mass and Capacity
Measurement: Length, Mass and Capacity covers comparing and measuring how long, how heavy and how much liquid something is, using informal units like hand spans and cups before standard units such as centimetres, grams and millilitres.
Method
- Start concrete: let the child directly handle real objects, holding two items to feel which is heavier, or pouring water between two real containers, or placing two objects side by side to compare length.
- Introduce non-standard units next, such as hand spans, cubes or paperclips, so the child understands that measuring means counting how many units fit, not just looking.
- Move to pictorial: look at a labelled ruler, a set of balance scales, or a measuring jug with markings, so the child connects the real object to a scale with numbers on it.
- Only then introduce the abstract standard units: cm and m for length, g and kg for mass, ml and l for capacity, and show how to read and write a measurement using them.
- Teach unit conversion by relating it back to place value: 1 kg is exactly 1000 g, in the same way that one whole ten is 10 ones, so converting is really just multiplying or dividing by 1000 (or by 100 for cm and m).
- Watch for the classic misconception that a bigger-looking object or container must measure more: a tall, narrow glass can hold LESS than a short, wide one, and a small, dense object can have MORE mass than a large, light one. Always measure or weigh to check, never judge by eye.
- Watch for children confusing which unit is larger: because 1000 is a bigger number than 1, a child may assume 500 g is more than 1 kg. Anchor this by counting up in real amounts (1 kg is 1000 g) rather than comparing the digits alone.
Worked example
A parcel has a mass of 1 kg and 300 g. A second parcel has a mass of 900 g. Which parcel is heavier, and by how many grams?
- Convert the first parcel's mass to grams: 1 kg is 1000 g, so 1 kg and 300 g is 1000 g + 300 g = 1300 g.
- Now both masses are written in the same unit: 1300 g and 900 g.
- Compare the two masses: 1300 g is more than 900 g, so the first parcel is heavier.
- Find the difference: 1300 g - 900 g = 400 g.
- The first parcel is heavier than the second parcel by 400 g.
Practice questions
Type your answer and press Check to be marked straight away, or reveal the answer and mark yourself.
Q1One book is 22 cm long. A second book is 15 cm long. If the two books are placed end to end, how long is the line they make together?Show answer
Answer: 37 cm (22 cm + 15 cm = 37 cm)
Q2Would you estimate that a school bus is closer to 2 metres long or 12 metres long?Show answer
Answer: 12 metres (a bus is much longer than 2 metres, which is only about the height of a door)
Q3Circle the best unit for measuring the length of a pencil: millimetres, centimetres, kilometres.Show answer
Answer: Centimetres
Q4A bag of flour has a mass of 1 kg. A bag of sugar has a mass of 500 g. What is the total mass of both bags, in grams?Show answer
Answer: 1500 g (1 kg is 1000 g, so 1000 g + 500 g = 1500 g)
Q5Write < or > to compare these masses: 900 g ___ 1 kg.Show answer
Answer: 900 g < 1 kg (because 1 kg is the same as 1000 g)
Q6A flask holds 2 litres when full. Efe has already poured in 750 ml. How many more ml does she need to pour in to fill it completely?Show answer
Answer: 1250 ml (2 litres is 2000 ml, and 2000 ml - 750 ml = 1250 ml)
Q7A cup holds 250 ml when full. Reuben has poured in 100 ml. Is the cup closer to full or closer to empty?Show answer
Answer: Closer to empty (100 ml is less than half of 250 ml, so most of the cup is still empty)
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a KS1 Maths exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
A ribbon is 45 cm long. Bilal cuts off 18 cm to use for a bookmark. How long is the ribbon that is left? Show your working.
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 2 available
Rowan says 750 g is a bigger amount than 1 kg, because 750 is a bigger number than 1. Is Rowan correct? Explain your answer using the number of grams in 1 kg.
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 2 available
A large bottle holds 1500 ml of water. A small bottle holds 600 ml of water. Both bottles are poured into one empty jug. How much water is in the jug? Give your answer in litres and millilitres.
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 3 available
Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the measurement: length, mass and capacity worksheet pack - 6 pages of exam-style questions with a full mark scheme. One email opens every download in this browser for 14 days - no account, no card. Print it for personal and classroom use.
Next topics
Not quite what you needed?
Tell us what is missing on measurement: length, mass and capacity, or which topic to write up next. Every request is read, and we reply to every one.
Build a full practice pack.
This topic is one of hundreds in the library - pick the ones a student needs and generate a printable PDF in minutes.