Centimetres and metres

What this chapter teaches

Length starts at the 0 mark of a ruler, and 100 cm make 1 m. Change metres and centimetres into centimetres by changing the metres first, then adding. A common slip is 4 m 5 cm written as 45 cm instead of 405 cm.

Three questions to ask

There is no one right wording. Listen for the idea.

1. How do you line up a ruler to measure a pencil, and why there?
2. A table is 2 m 35 cm long. How would you say its length in centimetres?
3. The end of a leaf falls between two marks. How do you decide which centimetre to say?

After the chapter, the learner can

• Measure and draw lines to the nearest centimetre
• Measure a room in metres and centimetres
• Change 2 m 35 cm into 235 cm