Mass

Measurement

Definition

Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object. Weight is the force that gravity exerts on an object and is measured in newtons (N). The process of weighing something is, in fact, measuring its mass. (Siemon, et al., 2015)

Students become increasingly able to recognise attributes that can be measured and how units of measure are used and calculated. In dealing with mass, experience helps develop estimates associated with commonly available reference objects (for example the mass of an egg). (National Numeracy Learning Progression)

Teaching and learning activities

The resources below provide targeted teaching strategies to support student improvement in this skill.

Each downloadable lesson activity includes:

learning intentions
a list of required resources
a step-by-step lesson sequence
printable classroom materials

Select the download all icon to download all available activities or select each activity separately.

Estimating and measuring massStudents carry out practical activities on estimating mass using reference objects such as marbles. They recognise the importance of using standard formal units to measure and compare the mass of everyday items, including converting between different units of measure.

Excess baggageStudents learn to read and calculate the excess mass of bags when travelling and determine any costs involved.

Download all (ZIP)Download the resource pack containing all activities.

PLAN2 Areas of focus

An Areas of focus template has been created in PLAN2 to support targeted teaching of Text structure in your learning area.

Search for the DoE template titled ‘DoE HSCMinStd Writing: Text structure’ in the Areas of focus template library tab within the Plan menu, and customise it for your students’ needs.

For more information about using PLAN2 Areas of focus templates with this resource, visit the Using this resource with PLAN2 page.

Relevance to the numeracy test marking

According to the ACSF, the feedback for a Level 3 performance in the HSC minimum standard online numeracy test for mass states that:

Individuals performing at this level are able to “select appropriate strategies from a variety of everyday mathematical processes in familiar and some less familiar contexts. They estimate, measure and calculate familiar metric measurements for mass and convert between the different unit measures for mass.

Connections with ACSF Level 3 descriptors

The relevant Level 3 ACSF descriptors for numeracy are shown here to demonstrate how estimating, measuring and calculating mass is assessed in the HSC minimum standard online test. The performance features identified show what a student is able to do in order to achieve at this level and are provided to support teachers to understand what is required to achieve a Level 3 in this skill.

Numeracy Indicator 3.09: Selects and interprets mathematical information that may be partly embedded in a range of familiar, and some less familiar, tasks and texts

Focus area: Explicitness and Complexity of mathematical information

Level 3 performance features:

interprets and comprehends familiar and routine measures of mass

Numeracy Indicator 3.10: Selects from and uses a variety of developing mathematical and problem solving strategies in a range of familiar and some less familiar contexts.

Focus area: Mathematical knowledge and skills: measurement and geometry

Level 3 performance features:

measures, estimates and calculates mass
converts between routine metric units by applying understanding of common prefixes, e.g. milli and kilo

Connections with Numeracy Learning Progressions

The progressions describe a typical developmental sequence of literacy and numeracy learning. The numeracy progression sub-elements, levels and indicators relevant to mass are provided here to assist teachers to identify students’ capabilities and needs to support targeted teaching.

Element: Measurement and Geometry

Sub-element: Understanding units of measurement (UuM)

UuM3 — Using informal units of measurement

measures an attribute by choosing and using multiple identical, informal units
uses multiple uniform informal units to measure and make direct comparisons between the mass or capacity of objects (e.g. uses a balance scale and a number of same-sized marbles to compare mass; uses a number of cups of water or buckets of sand to measure capacity)

UuM3 — Estimating measurements

estimates the total number of uniform informal units needed to measure or compare attributes (e.g. uses a handspan or a finger width; stands an arm length apart)
checks an estimate using informal units to compare to predicted measurement

UuM4 — Repeating a single informal unit to measure

measures an attribute by counting the number of units used

UuM4 — Estimating measurements

uses familiar household items as benchmarks when estimating mass and capacity (e.g. compares capacities based on knowing the capacity of a bottle of water)

UuM5 — Using abstract units

estimates the measurement of an attribute by visualising between known informal units (e.g. uses a cup to measure a half cup of rice; determines that about three sheets of paper would fit across a desk, and close to six might fit along it, so the area of the desk is about eighteen sheets of paper)
explains the difference between different attributes of the same shape or object (e.g. area and perimeter, mass and capacity)

UuM6 — Using formal units

uses scaled instruments to measure length, mass, capacity and temperature
estimates measurements of an attribute using formal units (e.g. estimates the width of their thumb is close to a centimetre; compares capacities based on the capacity of a 600 ml bottle of water)

UuM8 — Converting units

converts between metric units of measurement
describes the relationship between metric units of measurement and the base-ten place value system

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