Math lesson plan · 5th grade (Year 6 in England) · 60 minutes
Approximate conversions between miles and kilometres
Measurement
England: Y6 Measurement
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Approximate conversions between miles and kilometres.
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: Convert metric lengths: km, m, cm and mm; Scaling problems: times as many and recipes
Leads to: the next skill in this area.
Materials: Rulers, scales and measuring jugs, Clock faces, Conversion chart, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 6 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Convert metric lengths: km, m, cm and mm; Scaling problems: times as many and recipes). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Write 9 km 700 m in metres. → 9700Prompt: 1 km = 1000 m.
- A pancake recipe for 4 people uses 250 g of flour. How much flour is needed for 12 people? → 750Prompt: How many times as many people is 12 than 4?
- 32000 m = ? km → 32Prompt: A kilometre is 1000 m; a metre is 100 cm or 1000 mm.
Hook · 6 min
- Ask the class to estimate the length of the room or the weight of a bag before measuring it.
- Share the objective: Approximate conversions between miles and kilometres. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 12 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: 5 miles is about 8 km. About how many kilometres is 40 miles?
- Step 1: 40 ÷ 5 = 8
- Step 2: 8 × 8 = 64
- Step 3: 64 km
- Answer: 64
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 12 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- 5 miles is about 8 km. About how many kilometres is 15 miles? → 24Prompt: How many lots of 5 miles are in 15 miles?
- 5 miles is about 8 km. A road sign says 48 km. About how many miles is that? → 30Prompt: How many lots of 8 km are in 48 km?
You do: independent practice · 17 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 7 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- 5 miles is about 8 km. About how many kilometres is 50 miles? → 80Prompt: How many lots of 5 miles are in 50 miles?
- 5 miles is about 8 km. A road sign says 80 km. About how many miles is that? → 50Prompt: How many lots of 8 km are in 80 km?
Watch out for
- Measuring from the end of the ruler instead of zero.
- Converting units the wrong way (multiplying instead of dividing).
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Convert metric lengths: km, m, cm and mm.
- Use concrete materials: rulers, scales and measuring jugs.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/math/grade-5.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder