A museum-themed sorting activity on units of measure for Year 2 maths. Pupils sort twelve items, from the length of a dinosaur bone to the water in an aquarium, into length, mass and capacity. Two follow-up questions ask which item was trickiest and invite pupils to add their own item to each group. Answer guidance included. Matches the England National Curriculum units objective.
Measurement
“Choose and use appropriate standard units to estimate and measure length/height in any direction (m/cm); mass (kg/g); temperature (°C); capacity (litres/ml) to the nearest appropriate unit, using rulers, scales, thermometers and measuring vessels”
Sorting by what is being measured comes before choosing the unit itself.
A short story setting up the muddled museum scientist who needs help.
Twelve items, including a dinosaur bone, a moon rock and an aquarium, sorted into three categories.
Pupils explain the trickiest item and add a new item of their own to each category.
Sorted lists plus acceptance criteria for the open questions.
Main task
Set it in the lesson introducing length, mass and capacity as different measures.
Talk partners
Sort the twelve items in pairs and argue out the tricky ones.
Early finishers
The add-your-own question keeps quick sorters thinking.
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