How can you tell they’ve got it: Measuring mass and weight?

If they’ve got it, you’ll see things like: Use a balance to compare masses of two objects; Measure mass using non-standard units (e.g. 'this book weighs 5 cubes'); Begin to read a simple scale for mass. Or just try it together: If your child uses balance scales to compare two objects, can they tell you which is heavier — and if given weights like 100g, can they balance an object on the scale?

Mathematics Measurement Ages 5–6

Measuring mass and weight

Your child can measure weight with balance scales. They can say a book weighs the same as 5 cubes, and read a simple scale.

In curriculum terms

Measure and begin to record mass/weight using non-standard and standard units

Ages are typical, not deadlines — follow your child’s pace. How to help at home →

How to tell they’ve got it

Tick these off as you see them — no test required.

Use a balance to compare masses of two objects
Measure mass using non-standard units (e.g. 'this book weighs 5 cubes')
Begin to read a simple scale for mass

🖨 Print this page to keep the checklist — it prints beautifully.

Try this together

If your child uses balance scales to compare two objects, can they tell you which is heavier — and if given weights like 100g, can they balance an object on the scale?

Where this sits on the map

Stuck here? Check the skills it builds on first. Confident? Here’s what it unlocks.

Builds on

Measuring mass and weightages 4–6Measuring mass with units requires first being able to compare masses directly

Measuring mass and weightthis skill · ages 5–6

Unlocks

Choosing measurement unitsages 6–7Using standard units for mass extends from beginning to measure mass

solid = must come firstdashed = helps

Curriculum alignment

Where this fits in the official school curriculum — our best automated guess, not yet checked by a person.

Show candidate curriculum codes · 3 ACARA · 2 NSW · 3 VIC

Australian Curriculum v9 candidate

AC9M2M01high confidenceYear 2 · Measurement

measure and compare objects based on length, capacity and mass using appropriate uniform informal units and smaller units for accuracy when necessary

AC9M1M02medium confidenceYear 1 · Measurement

measure the length of shapes and objects using informal units, recognising that units need to be uniform and used end-to-end

AC9MFM01medium confidenceFoundation · Measurement

identify and compare attributes of objects and events, including length, capacity, mass and duration, using direct comparisons and communicating reasoning

NSW syllabus codes & stages only

MA1-NSM-01high confidenceMathematics K-10 · Stage 1

MAE-NSM-01medium confidenceMathematics K-10 · Early Stage 1

Victorian Curriculum 2.0 codes & levels only

VC2M2M01medium confidenceMathematics · Level 2 · Measurement strand

VC2M1M02low confidenceMathematics · Level 1 · Measurement strand

VC2MFM01low confidenceMathematics · Foundation · Measurement strand

These are candidate alignments generated by semantic matching — machine-suggested and unreviewed (v0.1), not official or verified mappings. For official curriculum content see australiancurriculum.edu.au, curriculum.nsw.edu.au and f10.vcaa.vic.edu.au. Don’t rely on them for registration or compliance purposes.

Nearby on the map

Capacity and volumeages 5–6 Coin Valuesages 5–6 Days, Weeks, Months & Yearsages 5–6 Measuring length and heightages 5–6

All Measurement skills →