Maths KS2: Using weights and measures
In the home of the Measures family, dad is making pancakes by following a recipe for 4 people, making enough for one person each.
The doorbell rings and two neighbours arrive. They are offered a pancake and then everyone else wants another one.
Dad must work out what quantities he will need to make enough mixture.
Three questions follow that ask firstly to double the recipe then to work out quantities for six people, and finally to solve the problem of making 12 pancakes using 20ml of maple syrup and how much will then be left from a 375ml bottle.
This is from the series: Let's Do Maths
Teacher Notes
The real life context asks children to adapt recipes and quantities.
Important skills of doubling and measures are practised including making practical decisions about what to do with 1 egg when needing to halve.
The measures are weight and capacity. Three differentiated questions are asked at the end and can provide opportunities for extension questions being set by the teacher or child.
This is an activity that could be used around Shrove Tuesday.
Ask the children what they have baked or used a recipe recently for? Pause the clip when the pancake recipe is shown.
If the recipe is for four people, what different recipes can you generate from this where it is for a different number of people? Use this as a stimulus when baking with children and following recipes.
What would need to have been done before the pancake was put in the pan?
Select a recipe and adapt it to make it for a different amount of people - discuss ratios and how these need to remain the same.
Curriculum Notes
This clip will be relevant for teaching Maths at KS2 in England and Wales, Second Level in Scotland and KS1 and KS2 in Northern Ireland.
