You will learn
- Choose the right measure.
- Convert units inside a problem.
- Solve multistep measurement problems.
- Check reasonableness.
Version 0.2 · expanded edition · built from cited public sources Content is based on the official frameworks and sources listed under Sources and standards. No official endorsement is claimed. Written in the style of common primary school assessments. No exam result is promised.
Student lesson
- Choose the right measure.
- Convert units inside the problem.
- Break multistep problems into steps.
- Check your answer is reasonable.
Words to know
Change units.
How much a container holds.
About.
Makes sense.
1. Discover: a market day
A tailor has 3.5 m of cloth and cuts pieces of 50 cm. How many pieces?
2. Understand: measurement in life
- 3.5 m = 350 cm; 350 ÷ 50 = 7 pieces.
- A 5 L jug filled with 250 mL cups: 5,000 ÷ 250 = 20 cups.
- 3 pieces of 2 m 40 cm = 7 m 20 cm.
- A tank 2 m by 1.5 m: area 3 m².
Idea 1: Pieces
2 m of ribbon in 25 cm pieces: 2 m = 200 cm and 200 ÷ 25 = 8 pieces.
Idea 2: Capacity
3 L in 500 mL cups: 3 L = 3,000 mL and 3,000 ÷ 500 = 6 cups.
Idea 3: Mixed units
4 × 1 m 30 cm = 4 m 120 cm = 5 m 20 cm. 2 h 30 min = 150 min. 5 kg = 5,000 g, so 20 packs of 250 g.
Why convert first? Parts and totals need the same unit.
3. Worked examples
Example 1 (I show you): Pieces
2 m in 25 cm pieces
- 200 ÷ 25.
Answer: 8
Example 2 (We do it together): Cups
3 L in 500 mL cups
- 3,000 ÷ 500.
Answer: 6
Example 3 (You try): Packs
5 kg in 250 g packs
Show the steps and answer
- 5,000 ÷ 250.
Answer: 20
Did you know?
Cooks and builders do these conversions every day.
Why this matters
Measurement problems appear in cooking, building and travel.
4. Explore: solve
You need paper.
- Convert 3.5 m to cm.
- Divide by 50.
- Convert 5 L to mL.
- Divide by 250.
Think about it: what did you notice?
7 and 20.
5. Practise
Say it in a sentence
Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.
- I change ___ to ___.
- Then I ___.
- The answer is ___ (unit).
- It makes sense because ___.
Guided practice
Question 1. 3.5 m ÷ 50 cm?
7.
Question 2. 5 L ÷ 250 mL?
20.
Question 3. 3 × 2 m 40 cm?
7 m 20 cm.
Independent practice
Level 1: Start
- 2 m of ribbon in 25 cm pieces
- 3 L in 500 mL cups
- 4 × 1 m 30 cm
- 2 h 30 min in minutes
- 5 kg of rice in 250 g packs
Level 2: Grow
- 3 m of ribbon cut into 30 cm pieces
- 2 L in 200 mL cups
- 3 × 1 m 15 cm
Level 3: Stretch
- 6 kg in 500 g bags
- 4 h 20 min in minutes
- Ben works out 2 × 1 m 80 cm as 2 m 160 cm and stops. What is the final answer?
Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.
6. Apply: everyday mathematics
A jug of 5 L fills cups of 250 mL. How many cups?
Show a sample answer
20.
Another one. A baker uses 250 g of flour for each loaf. How many loaves can he make from 4 kg?
Show a sample answer
4 kg = 4,000 g and 4,000 ÷ 250 = 16 loaves.
7. Common mistakes
Fix: Use the same unit.
Fix: Change both to the same unit first.
Fix: 120 cm = 1 m 20 cm.
8. Lesson summary and revision card
- I can choose the right measure.
- I can convert units inside a problem.
- I can solve multistep measurement problems.
- I can check reasonableness.
9. Check and master
Answer all 14 questions. You will see feedback after each one.
Your result appears here after you answer every question.
10. Key takeaways
- Same unit first.
- Choose the operation.
- Check sense.
11. Next lesson
Next lesson: Tables. Keep going with the next idea in this course.
Exam practice
These questions are written in the style of common school and international primary assessments. Try them on your own, without looking back. Then check your answers in the marking guide. The marks are shown in brackets.
- A 2 m ribbon is cut into 25 cm pieces. How many pieces? [3 marks]
- 3 L of juice fills 500 mL cups. How many cups? [3 marks]
- Find 4 × 1 m 30 cm. [2 marks]
- Change 2 h 30 min to minutes. [1 mark]
- Ali says 5 kg of rice makes 2 packs of 250 g. Is he right? Explain. [3 marks]
Total: 12 marks.
Marking guide and model answers
- 2 m = 200 cm [1]; 200 ÷ 25 [1]; 8 [1]
- 3 L = 3,000 mL [1]; 3,000 ÷ 500 [1]; 6 [1]
- 4 m 120 cm [1]; 5 m 20 cm [1]
- 150 [1]
- No [1]. 5 kg = 5,000 g [1]. 5,000 ÷ 250 = 20 packs [1].
Score guide: 11 to 12 = secure. 8 to 10 = nearly there, revise the parts you missed. Under 8 = work through the lesson again with a grown-up.
Printable worksheet
- 2 m of ribbon in 25 cm pieces
- 3 L in 500 mL cups
- 4 × 1 m 30 cm
- 2 h 30 min in minutes
- 5 kg in 250 g packs
- 3.5 m cut into 50 cm pieces gives
- 5 L in 250 mL cups gives
- 3 × 2 m 40 cm =
- 2 h 30 min in minutes:
- 5 kg in 250 g packs:
Homework
Solve three measurement problems from your kitchen.
Answer key and marking scheme
| Question | Expected response | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 2 m of ribbon in 25 cm pieces | 8 | 2 |
| 3 L in 500 mL cups | 6 | 2 |
| 4 × 1 m 30 cm | 5 m 20 cm | 2 |
| 2 h 30 min in minutes | 150 | 2 |
| 5 kg in 250 g packs | 20 | 2 |
| Total | 10 |
Practice answers: Worksheet: 1 8; 2 6; 3 5 m 20 cm; 4 150; 5 20.
Quiz answers: 1 A, 2 B, 3 C, 4 A, 5 B, 6 A, 7 B, 8 C, 9 A, 10 B, 11 C, 12 A, Challenge 1 C, Challenge 2 C.
Extra worksheet answers (items 6 onward): 6 7 pieces; 7 20 cups; 8 7 m 20 cm; 9 150; 10 20 packs.
Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 8 pieces; 2 6 cups; 3 5 m 20 cm; 4 150 minutes; 5 20 packs. Level 2: 1 10 pieces; 2 10 cups; 3 3 m 45 cm. Level 3: 1 12 bags; 2 260 minutes; 3 160 cm = 1 m 60 cm, so 3 m 60 cm..
Mastery and remediation
| Objective | Bronze (Developing) | Silver (Proficient) | Gold (Advanced) |
|---|---|---|---|
| O1 Choose the right measure | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O2 Convert units inside a problem | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O3 Solve multistep measurement problems | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O4 Check reasonableness | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
Courseversity badge thresholds (overall quiz score): Gold = 90–100%; Silver = 80–89.9%; Bronze = 70–79.9%. A badge is never a full record of progress.
If a learner struggles
- Find the misconception: Dividing without converting. Use the same unit.
- Explain another way: use real objects first, then pictures.
- Show a simpler example: Convert units first.
- Guided practice: work through one example together and let the learner try the next one.
- Reassess: use the quiz again or the worksheet.
- Move on when the learner shows Silver-level evidence independently.
For parents and guardians
In this lesson your child solves real measurement problems with mixed units. You do not need to be good at mathematics to help.
- Cook together and convert amounts.
- Ask: are the units the same?
- Estimate before calculating.
- Ask “how do you know?” after each answer, and listen.
- Praise effort, not only right answers. Mistakes are how we learn.
- Ten to fifteen minutes a day is better than one long session.
Teacher package
1–5. Objectives, prerequisites, materials, preparation, duration
Lesson objectives. Learners will: choose the right measure; convert units inside a problem; solve multistep measurement problems; check reasonableness.
Prerequisite knowledge. Lessons 1 to 6.
Materials. Counters (stones, seeds or bottle tops), paper, pencils, board or chalkboard. Low-resource options: use stones, seeds, sticks, bottle tops or drawings in the sand or on the board instead of printed materials.
Preparation. Gather the counters and draw the example pictures on the board before the lesson.
Suggested duration. 45–60 minutes. It can be split into two shorter sessions.
6–9. Teaching procedure, explanation notes, guided and independent activities
Introduction (5 min). Start with the Discover situation and let learners suggest ideas before you teach.
Explanation (10 min). Teach the Understand section with real objects first, then pictures, then symbols and words.
Guided activity (10 min). You need paper. Learners follow the Explore steps in pairs.
Independent activity (10 min). Learners complete the independent practice and the worksheet.
Assessment and reflection (5 min). Ask each learner to say one thing they learned and how they know it.
Key questions. Are the units the same? What is asked?
Teacher explanation notes. Use the concrete, pictorial, abstract order: real objects first, then pictures, then symbols and words. Return to real objects whenever a learner needs support.
10–12. Differentiation, formative assessment, common misconceptions
Support. Use real objects and work with a partner; say each step aloud together. Extension. Ask learners to make up their own example and explain it to a partner.
Formative assessment. Listen to learner explanations, ask “how do you know?”, and check the independent work.
Misconceptions. Dividing without converting. Use the same unit.
13–15. Assessment questions, answer keys, marking scheme
Use the quiz and worksheet on this page. The 12-mark exam practice scheme, the 10-mark scheme and all answers are in the answer sections above. Re-check every answer and the marking scheme before publication.
16–19. Remediation, enrichment, homework, teacher reflection
Remediation. Convert units first. Enrichment. Invite learners to find or create three more examples at home or in the classroom and explain them. Homework. See above.
Teacher reflection. After teaching, record: which concepts learners understood; which misconceptions occurred; which activities worked; which learners need more practice; and what to improve next time.
Sources and standards
This lesson is based on the sources below, and no official endorsement is claimed. Reference starting points named in the Courseversity standard: Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, Cambridge Primary and the IB Primary Years Programme. Where a standard code is named, it points to the official framework.
Official standards for this topic area. Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (official site): Grade 4 » Measurement & Data. These pages list the standards that cover this topic area; read them alongside the lesson.
Research used to shape this lesson. Common Core 4.MD.A.2; Cambridge Primary Mathematics Stage 4 and 5 (measurement problems). These sources informed the lesson.