The metric system takes centre stage in the Year 5 Measurement Programme of Study, emphasising the importance of converting between different units of metric measures.

By the end of Year 5 children should know the following relationships between metric units:

*1 kilometre = 1,000 metres*

*1 metre = 100 centimetres or 1,000 millimetres*

*1 centimetre = 10 millimetres*

Whilst most measurement that children come across will be metric, in the real world the old imperial system is still used, especially with regard to road measurement and vehicle speeds. This means that children will also be expected to understand and work with both systems, including equivalence between metric and imperial.

Children should know common imperial unit conversions to metric, including that a mile is about 1,600 metres, a little more than 1.5 km

Finding perimeters and areas of shapes are also important aspects of Year 5 work. Children may well need reminding of the difference between the perimeter of a shape and the area and plenty of practical work will help with this. Perimeters can be measured, or they can be calculated; both are equally important. Finding the perimeter of ‘composite rectilinear shapes’ is a key part of measurement in the National Curriculum for Year 5. It means finding the distance all the way round shapes that are made up of several rectangles. Usually only some of the lengths of the sides are given and children are asked to work out the missing lengths. These are very popular in the KS2 SATs.

Finding the area of rectangles is also covered, including finding approximate areas.

We have a great collection of pages on all aspects of Measurement in Year 5, well worth a look.