Converting between kilometres, metres, centimetres, and millimetres using multiplication and division by 10, 100, and 1000.
Where your child meets this in real life: Converting height from centimetres to metres (e.g., 175 cm = 1.75 m)
SEAGReady breaks convert length units into 3 steps, taught in order so each skill builds on the last.
Convert between metres and centimetres using multiplication by 100 and division by 100
Convert between centimetres and millimetres using multiplication by 10 and division by 10
Convert between kilometres and metres using multiplication by 1000 and division by 1000
Three free sample questions from our convert length units course. Every question comes with a full explanation, and hints that guide without giving the answer away.
Sean is measuring his living room for new furniture. The room is 3 metres long. How many centimetres is this?
Answer: A. 300 cm
To convert metres to centimetres, multiply by 100. 3 m x 100 = 300 cm The room is 300 cm long.
Stuck? Start here: Remember: centi means one hundredth, so there are 100 cm in 1 m.
Declan found a beetle that is 20 millimetres long. How many centimetres is this?
Answer: A. 2 cm
To convert millimetres to centimetres, divide by 10. 20 mm ÷ 10 = 2 cm The beetle is 2 cm long.
Stuck? Start here: Remember: there are 10 mm in 1 cm.
The distance from Aoife's house to the park is 3 kilometres. How many metres is this?
Answer: A. 3000 m
To convert kilometres to metres, multiply by 1000. 3 km x 1000 = 3000 m The distance is 3000 m.
Stuck? Start here: Remember: kilo means one thousand, so 1 km = 1000 m.
This is the exact interactive worked example your child sees in SEAGReady. Step through it and watch the method build up.
Aoife is measuring her bedroom for new carpet. The room is 4 metres long.
How many centimetres is this?
4 m = ? cm
Step 1 of 4
Aoife is measuring her bedroom for new carpet. The room is 4 metres long.
How many centimetres is this?
Aoife's bedroom is 400 cm long.
The key insight: When converting to smaller units, the number gets bigger - more little pieces fit!
Watch out: 4 m = 4 cm (dividing instead of multiplying). Centimetres are smaller than metres, so you need MORE of them, not fewer.
These are the misconceptions we see most often in convert length units, including the ones our practice questions are specifically designed to catch.
Struggling with convert length units? The real gap is often in one of these earlier topics.
SEAGReady finds the exact step where your child gets stuck, teaches it with worked examples like the one above, and brings it back for review so it sticks.