Length Teaching Resources
Teach students how to measure length this school year with printable worksheets, educational games, digital activities and more primary school resources designed to help students learn how to measure objects and distances.
This extensive collection of teaching resources is aligned to the Australian curriculum and covers topics such as informal units for measuring length, measurement tools, standard units and more — all designed to save primary teachers time on lesson planning. Created by expert teachers, each resource in this maths collection has been carefully reviewed and curated by our team. That means it's ready to use in the classroom! You'll even find editable resources, plus differentiated options.
New to teaching length, or just look for fresh ways to engage your students? Read on for a primer from our teaching team!
What Is Length? A Kid-Friendly Definition
Let's start out with an easy way to explain the meaning of length to your students!
Length is the word we use to explain the measurement of how long an object or distance is. It is typically measured in units such as metres or centimetres.
In primary school, students typically begin by learning basic concepts related to length, such as:
- Measurement tools — Ruler, tape measure, metre stick, etc.
- Units of measurement — Centimetre, metre, kilometre, etc.
- Comparing and ordering lengths — Shorter, longer, tallest, shortest, etc.
Units of Measuring Length
In Australia, students learn to measure length using the units of the metric system. Because it's based on units of 10, the metric system makes it easy for students to convert between different units of measurement.
Here are the most common length measurements that your students will likely use in primary school:
Millimetre (mm)
This is the smallest unit of length in the metric system. One millimetre is equal to 1/1000 of a metre.
Centimetre (cm)
One centimetre is equal to 1/100 of a metre. This unit of length is found on your classroom ruler.
Metre (m)
This is the basic unit of length in the metric system. One metre is equal to 100 centimetres.
Kilometre (km)
One kilometre is equal to 1000 metres and is used for measuring longer distances, such as the distance between cities or countries.
How to Teach Length
Looking for some fun ways to teach your students about length? Explore this whole collection for printables and digital activities, and take a look at some fun ideas from our teacher team!
- Measure Yourself — This is an activity that never gets old for students — measuring themselves with a measuring tape! Have students measure their height and then compare their height to their classmates. Students should write down each measurement, and then they can make comparisons such as who is taller or shorter.
- Scavenger Hunt — Scavenger hunts add an element of mystery to this maths skill. Hide various objects around the classroom and have students use a ruler to measure the length of each object.
- Explore Non-Standard Measurement — Before introducing formal measurement tools, using non-standard items such as crayons and paper clips to measure items in the classroom is a good way to help students understand how items relate to one another in size.
- Develop a Length Obstacle Course — Create an obstacle course using cones, hula hoops, and other items. Have students measure the length of the course using a tape measure or metre stick. Once they're done, allow them to get active by actually moving through the course.
- Take a Maths Walk With Your Rulers — This is an excellent idea for real-world application! Take a walk around your school and have students measure the length of different objects they encounter along the way, such as the length of the hallway or the height of a door.
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Paper Airplane Challenge - Measuring Distance Maths Activity
Practise measuring distance and have fun hosting a paper plane competition using a printable math investigation workbook.
- Free Plan
Metric Measurement Conversion Worksheet Set
Utilise our metric measurement conversion worksheet set to give your students practise converting units of metric length, mass and capacity.
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CM & MM Measurement Worksheets - Year 3
Practise using a ruler to measure in centimetres and millimetres with a pair of printable measurement worksheets.
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Measuring, Estimating, & Comparing Length Worksheets - Year 2
Use this printable set of Year 2 length worksheets to introduce your students to the concepts of measuring, comparing, and estimating length in informal units.
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Shorter or Longer? Measurement Comparison Game
Identify what is shorter or longer with an engaging interactive measurement game.
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Measuring Length Drawing Challenge Worksheeets
Make learning to use a centimetre ruler fun with an engaging set of Measurement Drawing Challenge Worksheets.
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Marine Measuring With Informal Units Interactive
Dive into measurement with informal units using an engaging ocean-themed interactive measurement activity.
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Year 3 Measurement Test - Measuring Length
Assess your Year 3 students' ability to measure length with a Year 3 Measuring Length Test.
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Choosing Units of Measurement - Length Worksheets (Differentiated)
Identify the unit of measurement needed to measure the length of an object with a pack of ‘Choosing Units of Measurement’ Worksheets.
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Measuring Length with Informal Units Teaching Slides
Teach your students about measuring length using informal units with an engaging, interactive teaching slide deck.
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Measuring Length with Informal Units Worksheets
A worksheet to use when learning about measuring length using informal units.
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Year 3 - Estimate and Measure Length Worksheets
Estimate and measure length in metres and centimetres with a set of printable Year 3 maths worksheets
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Measurement Maze Worksheets - Kindergarten/Foundation
Teach your students to compare tall and short objects with a printable set of Kindergarten Maths Maze Worksheets.
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Measurement Maths Craft - Robot Template
Use a fun robot-themed maths craft with your students when learning about measuring to the nearest centimetre.
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Measuring Length with Formal Units Teaching Slides
Introduce your students to the formal units to measure length with an engaging, interactive teaching slide deck.
- Free Plan
Converting Length Worksheets
Download our converting length worksheets to allow your students to demonstrate an understanding of decimal representations while converting units of metric length.
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Using a Ruler - Anchor Charts
Discover how to use a ruler to measure in metres, millimetres and centimetres with a set of printable measurement anchor charts.
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Length Word Problems - Year 3 Maths Worksheet
Help your students relate addition and subtraction with length using a printable Measurement Word Problems Worksheet for Year 3.
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Measuring Length - Year 1 Maths Assessment
Assess your students’ skills with measuring length using a printable Year 1 Measuring Length Test.
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Measuring Length Interactive Task Cards
Practise measuring objects to the nearest centimetre and millimetre with an engaging set of self-checking interactive task cards.
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Using Metric Units of Length Worksheets - Differentiated
Use differentiated metric measurement worksheets to practise identifying units, measuring, and converting metric units of length.
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Metric Measurement Conversion Lesson - Teaching Slides
Teach your students conversions of length with our metric measurement conversion lesson that is easy to download and use!
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My Dream Home Project
Introduce our 'My Dream Home Project’ to your students to help them increase spatial skills while designing the house of their dreams!
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Measurement Escape Room
‘Escape’ the ordinary in your classroom with this measurement escape room that will engage your students as they solve measurement conversion problems.
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I Have, Who Has? – Measuring With a Centimetre Ruler
Practise measuring objects using a centimetre ruler while playing this whole-class game.
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Choosing Metric Units of Length - Worksheets
Determine which metric unit of measurement should be used to measure objects with a set of Year 3 Maths worksheets.
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Measurement Maths Centre - Informal & Formal Units
Create an easily differentiated measurement maths centre with a printable Measuring Length Maths Centre.
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Year 3 Using Units of Measurement Worksheets Bundle
Download year 3 worksheets for using units of measurement that are linked to the Australian Curriculum.
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Measuring With Informal Units Scavenger Hunt
Explore informal units of measurement and engage your students with an exciting Informal Measurement Scavenger Hunt!
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Mixed Operations - Length Word Problems Worksheets
Solve multi-step length word problems with a printable pack of 3-act Maths Word Problem Worksheets.
- Plus Plan
Which Unit? Measuring Length Sorting Centre
Practise identifying when to measure in centimetres, metres, and kilometres using a printable metric measurement sorting activity.
- Free Plan
Measuring, Comparing and Ordering Height Worksheet
Measure length using informal units with an engaging hands-on collaborative measurement activity.