Students answer questions correctly to collect treasure from the bottom of the ocean floor. Each piece of treasure is worth different amounts of points, depending on its colour and size. With every correct answer, players haul up more treasure and increase their score—who will collect the most by the end of the game?

In this version, students practise choosing the most appropriate informal unit of measurement for various everyday objects. They’ll decide whether to use items like paperclips, counters, or string to measure length—building comparison skills and understanding the practical application of informal units in real-world contexts.

Let’s Sail – Choosing Informal Units of Measure: Length is a great way to reinforce measurement concepts in Foundation to Year 2. Use it on the interactive whiteboard for whole-class review, or let students scan the QR code to play independently during maths rotations or as a fun extension task.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Recognise and apply informal units of measurement for length
• ✅ Choose appropriate measuring tools based on object size
• ✅ Develop comparison and reasoning skills in measurement contexts
• ✅ Strengthen practical understanding of how we measure in real life
• ✅ Engage with maths content through risk-and-reward gameplay

How to Play:

1. Students are shown an object and asked to choose the most suitable informal unit to measure its length.
2. Each correct answer earns treasure—coins of different colours and sizes worth different point values.
3. Sometimes, a mystery treasure chest appears for an extra surprise.
4. Incorrect answers cause the treasure to fall back to the bottom of the sea.
5. At the end of the game, the player with the highest coin total wins!

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Use during measurement units focused on informal tools and comparison
• 💡 Great for Foundation to Year 2 students developing early measurement concepts
• 💡 Add to rotations alongside hands-on measuring activities
• 💡 Follow up with a practical task using real informal tools to measure classroom items

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Let students personalise their experience by choosing from six characters before the game begins
• 💛 Select the number of players or teams at the start of the game to suit individual, paired, or group play
• 💛 Send the QR code home for students to play as a homework or revision task

Let’s Sail – Choosing Informal Units of Measure: Length turns measurement practise into an underwater adventure—helping students learn to measure while diving for treasure!