I can compare and order lengths, mass, volume/capacity and record the results using >, < and =

What does this objective mean?

Children should be able to use the greater than (>), smaller than (<) or equals (=) sign to compare measurements How might it be assessed in the 7+? Children may be asked to add a >,<,or = sign to a number sentence. For example:

Make the following statement true:

23cm _____ 19cm

How do I teach this to my child?

A common method for teaching this is to imagine the < and > signs as the jaws of a crocodile. Because he is hungry, ‘the crocodile always eats the bigger number’. So
23cm > 19cm – the crocodile is eating 23cm, because it is bigger.

How can we practice this?

Idea: practical activity

Using kitchen scales, ask your child to measure two items and write a sentence to compare their mass. For example:

Bag of rice > Bag of sweets
500g 100g

You can do the same with length and capacity. Include examples where a larger unit is used (e.g. 800g < 1kg) to ensure your child understands the value of different units.

Related objectives for Measurement

• I can record and compare time in terms of seconds, minutes and hours; use vocabulary such as o’clock, am/pm, morning, afternoon, noon and midnight
• I know the number of seconds in a minute, minutes in an hour, hours in a day and days in each month, year and leap year
• I can measure the perimeter of simple 2-D shapes
• I can recognise and use symbols for pounds (£) and pence (p)
• I can find different combinations of coins that equal the same amounts of money
• I can solve problems in a practical context involving addition and subtraction of money in both £ and p, including giving change
• I can tell and write the time from an analogue clock, including using Roman numerals from I to XII, and from a 12-hour digital clock
• I can 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