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Ordering by length

Learn how to make ancient Egyptian pyramids!

Learning intention

Students will learn how to:

compare and order lengths using direct comparison.

Success criteria

I will know I have been successful if I can:

  • order lengths from longest to shortest.

Prerequisites

None

Languages

Reinforce the use of language related to measurement: long, longer than, longest, short, shorter than, shortest

Misconceptions

  • Lengths that ‘stick out’ further (regardless of whether the ends are aligned or not) are longer.

Before the video

  • ‘What is length?’ Discuss.
  • Ask the students to find 1 long object and 1 short object. Ask the students to compare their objects with a partner. Which object is the longest/shortest? How do you know?

During the video

First viewing:

Watch the video without stopping or pausing. Then, ask the children to explain what happened in the video. Begin to draw out key vocabulary or possible misconceptions.

Second viewing:

Pause point Key learning Action/discussion
1:02 Finding the longest length How could Ed work out which is the longest strip?
1:41 Lining up end-to-end to measure Why has Ed put them side-by-side when he is not sure?
3:19 Using key vocabulary What did Ed need to do to make a pyramid? Recap the steps together.

After the video

Make a pyramid:

  • Students follow Ed’s steps to make their own pyramid using the printable (do not glue the strips down yet).
  • Ask the students to mark bricks on their pyramid using the top brick and state the measured length (in bricks) of each layer of the pyramid. (Recap from 3:22 on video if necessary.)
  • Pair work: ‘Swap 2 layers of your pyramid. Ask your partner to work out which 2 layers have been swapped.’

Download resource

Craft creations:

  • Provide students with strips of card and invite them to create their own craft creations.

Mathletics worksheet:

Download worksheet

Mathletics rich learning tasks:

Ordering by length rich task

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